A senior is sharing her dream about affordable housing for herself other seniors in Williams Lake.
Shelly Shobridge, 72, shared her ideas with about 25 people during a meeting she hosted at the Seniors Activity Centre on Wednesday, April 17.
“I was told by Eva [Navrot]at the Seniors Advocate Services on average two to four people per day come in and ask for housing needs,” she said. “They are living in sub-standard housing, they are dealing with abuse where they are living, they cannot afford it - any number of reasons.”
Some seniors are living in homeless shelters and on the streets, she said.
“I would have never expected it in Williams Lake, but it is happening.”
The dream housing Shobridge is envisioning is the result of eight months of research, talking with other seniors, plus some preliminary meetings with Mayor Surinderpal Rathor and MLA Lorne Doerkson.
Proposing a six-storey building with 60 to 100 one or two-bedroom apartments in it, Shobridge said it would need to be accessible, welcoming, encouraging, inspiring, interesting, safe, affordable, attractive and a place that builds community, friendships, skills and relationships.
“It needs to be a place where people can say, ‘this is where I want to spend the rest of my life,’” she said.
Smiling she noted she has built it in her head already and it meets every single need she has identified by talking to other people.
Inside the building she would like to see wide hallways, good lighting, security, large rooms for events, laundry on every floor and areas outside for garden boxes, visiting with neighbours, family and friends.
Referring to successes in other communities she encouraged people to check out the Yukon Housing Corporation who by focusing on housing for seniors has seen population growth.
Mayor Rathor said the city is 100 per cent behind the idea and encouraged Shobridge to make a presentation to city council.
Doerkson said seniors housing is a huge issue.
“I’m certainly lending my support to it. 100 Mile is working on something similar and already has the land,” Doerkson said.
Shobridge suggested Patrick Reid Park on Boundary Street as a possible location, but one woman at the meeting told her ‘don’t take away our park.’
Suggesting a non-profit-organization could be formed to start the housing project, Shobridge is also asking if there is an existing non-profit organizations in Williams Lake interested in taking the lead.
Another meeting to tackle the idea will be held Wednesday, May 29 at 2 p.m. at the Seniors Activity Centre and anyone who is interested or has expertise or experience to attend.
Shobridge can be reached at 250-267-8314 for anyone who has some insights to share or wants to ask questions.
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