Community Well-being

The 2024 Westside Unique Identifier Count (UIC) Report

This report represents the most comprehensive snapshot to date of housing instability in the area. Conducted by Henluk Consulting, in collaboration with local organizations, the UIC survey engaged 212 residents—many of whom are typically overlooked by traditional counts, including individuals living in vehicles, overcrowded conditions, or couch-surfing.

The 2024 Westside Unique Identifier Count (UIC) Report findings reveal that 74% of respondents were experiencing unstable housing, and many who believed they were “stable” were in fact facing hidden forms of housing vulnerability.

The report also highlights several critical social issues, including the increasing reliance on services for immediate survival (food, hygiene, rest), rather than long-term system navigation—signaling service fatigue and access barriers.

Read the full 2024 Westside UIC Report here: 2024 UIC Westside Report

Housing plays an important role in health and our community's well-being. We want to be a place where people can call West Kelowna home and to make this possible, a variety of housing types and tenures are needed for our young city. Using the concept of a housing continuum, the City continues to strive towards different housing options for residents.

Learn more on our Housing webpage.

To support community members with housing service navigation, including those community members who are unhoused, here are some housing resources:

• Housing Resources Information
• Government of British Columbia - Housing and Tenancy

Westside Fall/Winter 2025 Homelessness Resources

Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy (COPAWS)

The City of West Kelowna collaborates with the City of Kelowna, District of Peachland, District of Lake Country, and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO) to develop a Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy (COPAWS). The COPAWS funding was used to do a community analysis to create a strategy.

Read the following documents:

• Central Okanagan Community Analysis
• Background Report
• Central Okanagan Community Poverty & Wellness Strategy
• What we Heard Report

Access to safe and nutritious food is vital for the health of our West Kelowna community. As part of the Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness Strategy (COPAWS) Table, the City is currently working with other local and regional partners on a food security strategy, focusing on working collaboratively on food distribution, storage and distribution, innovation, and a map of our food security system.

Accessible, affordable childcare is an important part of our poverty reduction initiatives in the City. The City of West Kelowna is an active member of the Childcare Council of the Central Okanagan, which works collaboratively with a variety of local childcare program owner-operators, local colleges who grant Early Childhood Educator certificates, School District #23, and the local Child Care Resource & Referral Centre.

In 2020, the Childcare Council worked together with other municipalities in the Central Okanagan on a childcare needs assessment with subsequent recommendations and actions. Read the Community Child Care Planning report.

If you are needing childcare supports to find and afford childcare, please contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Centre through the Ministry of Education Child Care.

Who to Call: Emergency & Safety Resources

Bylaw Community Support Officer (CSO)

To support public health and safety of the community, the City of West Kelowna secured funding to help increase the impact of the community's peer network on building relationships, guidance and support between those who are street-entrenched and outreach workers, bylaw and protective services, and neighbourhood, business and community members around our shelter sites.

The funding added a Community Service Officer to the Bylaw team to provide support for specialized populations to join local efforts, seek those who are at risk and bridge positive dialogue, ensure appropriate resource allocation and create a safe environment for all in our community. Staff received training in areas of vulnerability screening, peer support, harm reduction, first aid, conflict resolution, bylaw orientation, fire safety and mental health first aid. The role supports community clean up, warm referrals to support services and daily Point in Time (PiT) counts to help better understand the needs of the community.

This position is now a permanent position at the City, as it's seen as an integral part of our community health and safety, and helps support our community's most vulnerable residents.

HUB Model – Situation Table for the Westside

A joint Situation Table (HUB) for the City of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and District of Peachland has been developed to provide coordinated, mobilized and integrated responses for vulnerable individuals facing elevated levels of risk.

Since 2019, the Westside Hub meets to provide community and organizational updates. During the second part of the meeting, referrals of individuals who are at high risk of harming themselves or someone else are brought forward, and collaborative interventions are made with those organizations around the Table.

The City of West Kelowna’s Accessibility & Inclusion Committee (AIC) brings together community members, organizations, and municipal staff to work collaboratively. The committee’s mission is to enhance accessibility and foster inclusion by:

• Reducing and removing barriers to accessibility,
• Centering the experiences of individuals with varying abilities, and
• Promoting a welcoming, inclusive community.

The AIC’s top priority is developing an Accessibility & Inclusion Plan to expand and improve accessibility options throughout the city. Learn more by visiting the Committee's webpage.

City of West Kelowna's Accessibility Plan

Accessibility Plan approved - May 13, 2025 Regular Council Meeting

Council approved the Accessibility Plan, which includes three goals and 16 actions. Implementation will consider staff resources, time, and financial capacities. The 10-year capital plan provides $51,500 every three years to conduct accessibility audits and $51,500 annually for improvement projects.

• Watch the Council Meeting webcast here.
• Read the full Report to Council.

Read our Accessibility Plan

The Accessibility Plan is an opportunity for people in West Kelowna to foster a community where inclusion is an ongoing practice. It involves engaging individuals with disabilities in every

stage of designing, implementing, and providing feedback on accessibility initiatives.

City's Accessibility Feedback Form

Building a community for everyone

We are creating a community where everyone, regardless of ability, can actively participate in all aspects of daily life—both now and in the future.

The City of West Kelowna welcomes ongoing feedback and input from people with disabilities, including those related to vision, hearing, mobility, learning, development, mental health, age, and memory.

Together, let’s ensure that residents and visitors of all abilities, diversities and backgrounds can fully access and enjoy our programs, services, sidewalks, crosswalks, pathways, parks, trails, facilities, beaches, and other attractions and amenities.

We want to understand the barriers people face when accessing our programs, facilities, information, services, or support. Share your experiences, suggestions for improvement, or positive feedback to help us make West Kelowna more accessible.

We want to hear from you!

About the Accessibility & Inclusion Committee

At the June 13, 2023 Regular Council Meeting, Council adopted the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the new Accessibility and Inclusion Committee. Within the TOR, it states that the committee must contain up to seven members with majority of composition aligning with the requirements of the Accessible British Columbia Act. Appointments to the AIC shall be by resolution of Council, and members will be appointed for a two-year term which will end July 22, 2025.

To learn more about the committee, visit: Accessibility & Inclusion Committee.

Making West Kelowna more Accessible

We're continuing to work collaboratively to make our community more accessible. Here are some of the improvements we've already made:

• City Hall, administrative and services
  • Varying counter heights at City Hall
  • Corporate website designed in compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA
  • Closed captioning in video production
• Parks
  • Julia’s Junction – Inclusive Play Space
    • An accessible and inclusive play space, providing a place for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy
    • Located at Westbank Centre Park, 2569 May Street, West Kelowna
  • Westbank Centre Park
    • Includes Julia’s Junction, Kids Care Spray Park and Westbank Centre Community Gardens
    • Located at Westbank Centre Park, 2569 May Street, West Kelowna
  • Casa Loma Dock Park
    • Features a paved pathway, accessible boardwalk, and picnic areas
    • Located at 2717 Casa Loma Road
  • Beechnut Park
    • Provides access to a pebble swim beach via a wheelchair ramp. A picnic table and bench are conveniently located near the water for relaxation.
    • Located at 2395 George Court
  • Rotary Trails
    • Walking trails and viewing platforms
    • Located at 4082 Gellatly Road, across the street from the Gellatly Bay waterfront
  • Gellatly Multi-use Pathway and Recreational Corridor
    • Located along Gellatly Road

• Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Boucherie Multi-use Pathway
  • Brown Road upgrade Main to Gossett
  • Glenrosa Road and McIver Road Improvements
  • Shannon Lake Road Roundabout and Multi-use Pathway
  • Shannon Lake – McDougall Creek Bridge to Bartley and Bartley to Highway 97 improvements
  • Stevens Road multi-use corridor improvements, Bartley to Stevens
  • Webber Road sidewalks
  • Westlake Road improvements
  • Whitworth Road – George Court to Pebble Beach Multi-use Pathway

The Central Okanagan Early Years Partnership hosted by Childhood Connections is a collection of over 25 non-profit agencies that provide programs, services and advocacy for children, youth, and families.

Together, these agencies created a resource page to help families navigate programs and services in the Central Okanagan.

Check out the Central Okanagan Community Connections resource page.

The Westside Health Network Society provides wellness to seniors through volunteerism, education, referral, and social programs.

The Seniors Outreach & Resource Centre offers programs, services and an array of support for seniors including a housing directory for seniors living in the Central Okanagan looking for low-income, supportive, long-term and assisted living housing.

To learn more, please read the Supports for Seniors resource page.

More housing supports for Seniors:

• BC Housing's Seniors' Supportive Housing Program

• BC Housing's Independent Living BC Program (supports for seniors and people with disabilities)

• Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER)

To search for resources, programs, or community organizations in the Central Okanagan, go to the website BC 211 and for Provincial Health Information and advice go to HealthLinkBC by calling 8-1-1.

To support community members with housing service navigation, including those community members who are unhoused, the City has created a community and housing resource list:

• Central Okanagan Community Connections resource page.
• Housing Resources Information
• Supports for Seniors Resource Page.

City of West Kelowna Snow Star Program

With each snowfall, it is a challenge for many residents to keep their sidewalks clear of snow and ice. The City of West Kelowna Snow Star Program encourages residents to lend a helping hand to those who may be unable to clear snow and ice from sidewalks or driveways.

Visit OurWK.ca/snowstar to nominate a snow star during the winter. Nominations for 2025 are now closed. Nominees will be entered to win a great prize in a random draw at the end of the season. To be eligible, the Snow Star must be a resident of the City of West Kelowna.

The West Kelowna community has many resources and assets to contribute to our unique and diverse sustainable community. Asset-based Community Development builds on the assets that are found in the community and mobilizes individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to realize and develop their strengths. With that, the City recognizes and supports the commendable work of our social service provider sector and annually invites applications to our Grants in Aid Program.