The province is buying the Super 8 motel in Courtenay to provide sheltered housing.
A temporary-use permit application will be submitted to the municipality so the Cliffe Avenue motel can be used as housing, the province said.
It said in a news release that once residents have moved in, “B.C. Housing will begin exploring permanent housing options for the site and will engage with the community to discuss its long-term use.”
Those expected to move into the Super 8 have been living since the spring of 2020 in the Travelodge Courtenay, but the lease ran out in May and was only extended to June 30.
The province had tried to buy the Travelodge but could not come to terms with the owner, a B.C. Housing statement said.
Built in 1972, the Super 8 motel, which is on 1.29 acres, is assessed at $4.08 million. The purchase price has not yet been disclosed.
The province has purchased several hotels and motels in recent years to alleviate the housing shortage, including properties in downtown Victoria and Vancouver.
Travelodge residents are expected to begin moving into the Super 8 this month.
“We want to make sure that these vulnerable people are not left homeless, which is why we made substantial efforts to purchase this hotel and create a valuable housing resource for the community,” said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon.
The Comox Valley Transition Society, which has been running the Travelodge, will operate the sheltered housing in the Super 8 to make for a smooth transition for residents, the province said.
The Super 8 has 67 rooms, each with its own washroom.
Similar to the Travelodge, the facility will be staffed around the clock, seven days a week, and will offer support services such as daily meals, life-skills training, and health and wellness services.
B.C. Housing is also working with the municipality and the transition society to find a permanent site for the CONNECT shelter, which serves as a short-term shelter in extreme weather conditions and is currently at 685 Cliffe Ave.
B.C. Housing is holding a public information session about its Super 8 plans on June 8 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Native Sons Hall, 360 Cliffe Ave.
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