The Kelowna Curling Club is part of the plan to take care of the homeless in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, but it's not currently housing people.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Housing has secured beds in cities around the province for people without homes. In Kelowna, 120 beds have been identified by The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction including 40 beds at the Curling facility. But club manager Jock Tyre says the club is not opening its doors to the homeless. "There has been talks about it," admitted Tyre, "but that hasn't gone any further than discussion."
This seems slightly at odds with the ministry which lists the Curling Club on its list of facilities that have been "procured" for this purpose. Tyre does suggest the club could be pressed into service in an emergency.
"I think the only way it's really going to play a role," he said, "is if we get a really large COVID outbreak especially among the vulnerable population."
Tyre suggested the Curling Club is being looked at as part of a contingency plan.
"If we needed to have a place for social distancing for vulnerable homeless people," he said, "then that's what we would be used for."
In the meantime, Tyre is quite clear. "We are definitely not being used as a housing complex."
Including the curling club, the ministry has said 120 beds have been secured in Kelowna at four sites. Only the curling club is identified.
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