After months of searching for a new space to call home, Inn from the Cold has decided to close its doors.
After opening in 1999, the emergency shelter has served Kelowna’s homeless for two decades, but closed its office on Friday, June 21.
“It is with much regret that we feel we have no choice at this time but to close the society’s office,” said Kim Froom, treasurer.
“We have been blessed to work with an amazing group of staff who are incredibly skilled and compassionate in their support of the homeless and who have continued to remain loyal to the Inn and what it stands for, despite the challenges we’ve faced over the past couple of years.”
The Inn was forced to close the doors on the emergency shelter it operated in January after the property was sold for redevelopment.
Since then, a search for new space has been unsuccessful despite repeated discussions with the community and local businesses, as well as local and provincial government.
The search primarily focused on light commercial or industrial parts of Kelowna in an effort to minimize impact on the community.
On the Inn’s website, it says the shelter is “temporarily closed” and a media release said the board of directors will now take time to evaluate the society’s values, purpose and future direction.
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