Julia Deans, President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada visits the Okanagan
Julia Deans the President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada recently visited us here in the Central Okanagan. It was a long overdue visit to our affiliate office. A delay of more than two years and one global pandemic.
Her visit comes at a very critical time where the issue of affordability and access to affordable housing is one of the most concerning issues to British Columbians today. Like many groups working to solve the affordable housing crisis, Habitat for Humanity Okanagan has never seen housing costs as high as they are today in the Okanagan.
The city of Kelowna and other communities throughout the Okanagan have seen housing costs soar to levels comparable to some of the biggest urban centres in Canada such as Vancouver and Toronto. Factors that are putting an even greater financial barrier in the way for more and more families in the Okanagan.
Julia had the opportunity to come out to our Lake Country build and see our progress to date, and she got to meet one on one with some of our families waiting for these homes to be completed.
Although it was a very short visit, Julia spoke to local media and shared the importance of working together with our communities and municipalities and how vital this work is to affordable housing. If you didn’t get to see Julia’s interviews about Habitat’s Okanagan’s work, you could view them here: