The Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) Foundation is expanding JoeAnna’s House.
A statement from the foundation says it’s in response to increased demand for short-term accommodations for the families of patients travelling to support a loved one receiving care at KGH.
“Over the last 18 months especially, the ongoing wait list for families in need has become a real concern,” said JoeAnna’s House Director Darlene Haslock. “Since JoeAnna’s House opened in 2019, we’ve had to turn away or delay check-in for over 919 families, it’s heartbreaking.”
Original plans included future expansion, however, the growing number of regional patient referrals to KGH has led to demand for the house exceeding its current capacity, the statement reads.
“Our team is turning families away every day, families facing some of the most difficult and unexpected periods of their lives,” said Allison Young, KGH Foundation CEO. “It’s truly incredible that our donors have made this home possible for our out-of-town neighbours, and we are in dire need of an expansion to support even more families in the region.”
A request for proposals has been posted for trades interested in the project.
The KGH Foundation’s ‘Closer to home than you think’ campaign, launched in March 2023, has raised $26 million of his $40 million goal to help fund the immediate needs and long-term system changes in local health care at KGH and in the community.
