Homes on Pine St. remain vacant after devastating floods (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

Merritt Housing

Merritt expecting housing relief funding ‘soon’

Apr 12, 2022 | 4:15 PM

MERRITT B.C. — Even before the November floods, the city of Merritt was dealing with a shortage of housing. The Coldwater River then breached it’s banks and destroyed countless homes in the community, only exacerbating the issue. City officials have plans ready for housing, but are in need of federal and provincial funding to get them off the ground, funding that could soon be on the way.

“We have had very positive meetings with Mayor (Linda) Brown where she has outlined the issues that are of concern to her and the community of Merritt. There has been significant work already done, but what I can tell you is I’m expecting that there will be an additional amount in very short order to deal with housing in Merritt,” said B.C. Deputy Premier Mike Farnworth.

“I do understand that it will be very soon. It wasn’t that moment, but [Farnworth] did say they will be making an announcement on it soon,” said Brown. “We don’t know what soon means, today, tomorrow, the next day, I don’t know. I think it’s that close to being done.”

Mayor Brown was down in Vancouver on Monday speaking with Minister Farnworth, along with other provincial and federal partners on the joint flood recovery committee. It was a discussion that Brown hopes relays the urgency needed.

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“I really stressed the residents and their helplessness at this point. They are completely at loss for being able to move on with their lives. This is just way too long for them,” added Brown.

While traditional stick built homes can take time, the city is looking at a pilot project with UBC-Okanagan to use a 3-D printer to quickly build homes for displaced Merrittonains.

“That will get our housing just booming, which is exactly what we need. Any day now is good enough at this point,” said Brown.

With the idea to quickly increase housing stock in the community. The issue of housing tradespeople to construct the new homes is being investigated.

“The much needed red seal carpenters, plumbers, electricians, we don’t have enough in the city right now to handle what we have in our development field. We will need additional people to come in and we have to house them for that,” said Brown.

It won’t come in time to help the residents of Merritt, but the government is also looking at a national flood insurance program, and diking across the entire province for potential natural disasters in the future.