British ColumbiaPenticton city council has deferred a decision on a proposed plan to build tiny homes aimed at addressing homelessness in the community following public backlash and a tense council meeting on Tuesday.Penticton has paused the approval 50 temporary tiny homes to help homeless people transition out of shelters CBC News · Posted: Nov 05, 2025 7:28 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe City of Penticton is looking to add 50 tiny homes, similar to the ones seen here in Kelowna. (CBC News)Penticton city council has deferred a decision on a proposed plan to build tiny homes aimed at addressing homelessness in the community following public backlash and a tense council meeting on Tuesday.The homes, billed as transitional housing that is a step between a shelter and permanent housing, would have been funded by the province through B.C. Housing and built at Dartmouth Dog Park, temporarily closing the green space. While the province has said it would have 24-hour support staff on site along with cameras, fencing and controlled entrances, more than 1,200 people signed a petition calling on city council to delay a decision on whether to move forward with the project until they could get more information.Among the councillors who voted in favour of a delay was Campbell Watt, who expressed concerns about an overdose prevention site being part of the proposed location, which is in an industrial area of town.”I’m certainly skeptical of having to appease the province before the community as a criteria,” Watt said. “I would like to see us as true partners — the province, the community and the people benefiting from these homes.”Others referred to a lack of consultation with the province and a desire to get more information on the project before giving it the go-ahead.Dartmouth Dog Park is the proposed site for 50 tiny homes in Penticton that will be used for transitional housing. (Tiffany Goodwein/CBC)Ultimately, council voted to table the discussion until Dec. 2 until they could hold public meetings and learn more about how similar projects have fared in other communities, such as nearby Kelowna, whose mayor, Tom Dyas, has spoken in support of the project.Only Coun. Isaac Gilbert opposed the delay, saying he is concerned it could result in the province directing the funding earmarked for Penticton to another community.B.C.’s Housing Ministry hasn’t said whether the funding will still be in place by December, but has said the offer to fund the project is not open-ended and could be directed elsewhere if Penticton decides not to pursue it.With files from Tiffany Goodwein
Penticton, B.C., defers decision on proposed tiny homes project following public backlash
