Kelowna has come through for a Syrian refugee family that recently arrived in the city and was in desperate need of a permanent place to rent.
Following an urgent appeal last last month for leads on a home that the family of eight could afford to rent, a landlord has stepped forward with a home in Kelowna.
Up to now, the family had been put up in temporary lodgings.
The location of the home is not being revealed by Kelowna Community Resources, but KCR refugee settlement coordinator Doreen Rosvold said it meets all the needs of the family—it's large enough, is on a transportation route and is near an elementary school.
The family's six children, all under the age of nine, needed to be in their permanent new home before they could register for school.
"We really want to thank the community for this outpouring of help," said Rosvold about the response to the KCR call. "It really is a community effort to help get this family settled."
Follow-ups on leads received last month all fell through and the family had to be out of where they were staying by May 1. When something could not be found be they, a second cal for leads on any appropriate lodgings was put out and that lead to connecting with the land of the new property.
Rosvold said the family is excited to be moving into their new home on June 1.
The family came to Kelowna March 7 after fleeing the fighting that has erupted in their home country of Syria.