Bringing affordable housing to Salmo

After 26 years of planning the Salmo & Area Supportive Housing Society is on the brink of opening 28 units of affordable housing

The Salmo affordable housing development will be an asset to the area. — Photo courtesy Columbia Basin Trust

It’s been in the works for a while, but after 26 years an affordable housing development in Salmo, B.C., is now nearing completion. The project was spearheaded by the Salmo & Area Supportive Housing Society. Phil Berukoff, former mayor of Salmo and chairperson of the society, has been involved since the idea was first discussed in a town hall meeting. Today he’s excited to see the opportunity for seniors to remain in their hometown become a reality.

“We’ve got people here that are actually moving back to town because their parents are living here,” said Berukoff. “Before what we were doing was shipping our seniors off and now they’ll be able to stay at home. I think that’s good for the seniors, it’s good for the kids that are here with them and it’s going to generate some revenue—some jobs and things like that. So it’s going to be good all the way around.”

Building a place to call home

The finished affordable housing development—to be called Salmo Valley Estates—will have 20 apartments for seniors as well as eight townhouses for family living. There are 16 one-bedroom senior apartments and the remaining four will have two bedrooms. Two units are handicapped accessible for residents with mobility issues. The building has elevators, a common area and a commercial kitchen that will be able to provide meals. Berukoff said that there are plans to install raised garden beds on the grounds so the residents can grow plants in the summer. The building will not offer assisted living right away, although there is potential to integrate that option in the future. Each townhouse building has four separate units with either two or three bedrooms. Rental rates will be affordable and Berukoff expects that they’ll be comparable to other rates in the area.

Construction started on the project on October 10, 2013, under general contractor, Scuka Enterprises, a company that is based out of Kelowna, B.C. The development is currently on schedule for completion in September of 2014 and the Salmo & Area Supportive Housing Society expects to open to tenants in October. There have been approximately 130 names submitted for the 20 senior apartments, indicating that the development is certainly filling a local need. The society is in the process of hiring an administrator and various staff and then the tenant selection process will begin.

Making it a reality

The Salmo affordable housing development was the first to begin construction under the Affordable Rental Housing initiative. Through this initiative the federal and provincial governments have agreed to invest $180 million into affordable rental housing projects over three years. The Salmo & Area Supportive Housing Society provided the land and further equity. Berukoff mentioned the abundance of community support they’ve received over the years from local businesses, the Village of Salmo and individuals. The society has been fundraising for many years through hotdog and hamburger sales, firewood raffles, etc. Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has also been a major financial contributor to the project, which Berukoff said will cost just over $5 million.

“I admire the determination and perseverance of (the citizens of) the community of Salmo who are now witnessing a great idea materialize into a modern building to house families and seniors,” said Neil Muth, CBT's president and chief executive officer. “This initiative is a key part of improving the well-being of residents in the Columbia Basin and CBT is proud to work with the Salmo & Area Supportive Housing Society in partnership with the federal and provincial governments to improve housing options for local residents.”

For the Salmo & Area Supportive Housing Society, the completion of Salmo Valley Estates will be the end of one long chapter and the realization of a dream. Many of the six members of the society have been working towards this goal from the very start. Berukoff is excited to see tenants move in and said there’s lots of positive anticipation around the town. He’d like to thank everyone who’s been involved from contributors to community to the construction crews.

“It’s been such a long time coming,” he said. “Now we need to go on and get people in there to see it full and see it working.”