Twelve new affordable housing units will be coming online for seniors and people with disabilities in Kamloops.

It will be on the main floor of a new six storey, 140 unit building under construction at 444 St. Paul Street, called The Lightwell.

The building is being developed by Total Concept Developments, and it will also have commercial space.

These 12 studio apartments will be managed by the Oncore Senior Society, and Vice Chair Mona Murray says it is a unique way of building housing for people in need.

“It is a project within a project,”she said. “It allows us to own our units within our space to have our own social lounge and to place the people that we want to place in the 12 units.”

Murray says they’ll be working with Community Living BC to find people to move into these units once they are completed in the fall of 2020.

“Two of them are going to be completely wheel chair accessible with lowered counters and wheel in showers,” Murray added. “We’re just going to match the units to the people most in need.”

Residents will pay rent in the low $400’s, and they will conceivably be able to stay as long as they like in the units.

Those who are chosen will have access to various supports, if they need help.

“Coming in to make sure that that individual is eating properly,” said Murray. “Perhaps they need assistance with doing their laundry or assistance with housekeeping.”

“Wherever possible, we’ll be teaching that individual to become completely independent as best they can.”

The Oncore Senior Society got $2.25 million from the BC government to help them buy the 12 units.

The society’s space will also have a lounge for social and recreational events, for which Murray said they are trying to fundraise about $50,000.

This project is the fourth affordable housing project launched by the Oncore Seniors Society with help from the province and BC Housing.