Image Credit: CFJC News

By Amandalina Letterio

THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

TRU hoping to build $2.5 million modular homes for students as soon as possible

Sep 13, 2021 | 5:22 PM

KAMLOOPS — International students at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) are struggling to find housing this year – and the university might have a solution within the next 24 hours.

Although TRU has fewer students on campus this year, campus housing is at capacity. Many students are struggling to find housing and are currently living in temporary spaces like motels.

“The place I’m staying right now, it’s up to 21 I have. I am very worried right now – what should I do after that? So, I’m trying. I hope the university also trying to get me a place so that I can concentrate on my studies as well,” explains Jyoti Panshotra, a TRU International Student from India.

As a solution, the university is working with the City of Kamloops to fast-track a building permit that will allow them to build a small modular home student village in a TRU parking lot.

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The $2.5 million temporary housing will consist of four separate buildings and will house 152 students.

“Because of everything that has happened in the city, with the wildfire, the pandemic – our homestay families not taking students because of concerns around the pandemic – hotels that our students used to go to turned to social housing. The inventory has decreased,” TRU Vice President of Administration and Finance Matt Milovick said.

Milovick told CFJC News that just a couple of weeks ago there were still vacancies in the student housing. Once the university realized there was a problem, they acted quickly. He says if the city approves, the students will be able to move into the modular village within two weeks of construction.