A $200,000 pop-up loo project proposed for downtown Kelowna

KELOWNA – A solution to the shortage of washroom facilities for the homeless in downtown Kelowna could be a pop-up toilet managed by former homeless people.

A proposal for a three-month pilot project is going to city council on Monday.

It calls for council to authorize spending almost $43,000 to buy a structure with two fully plumbed washrooms and space for those supervising its use. The total cost of the three-month pilot project is about $206,000.

If the pilot is successful, the building can continue to be used at its location on Queensway or, if the pilot doesn’t work out, it can be relocated elsewhere.

While anyone can use the washroom, it was one of the recommendations in last fall’s Public Safety Report by former RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon. He called for some permanent washrooms for the homeless.

The plan is to operate it from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. with supervision from formerly homeless people who have graduated from a training program for people with “lived experience in homelessness or substance use.”

The report to council from the city’s Community Safety Director Lance Kayfish, says that a permanent washroom had previously been contemplated for the Queensway area.

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