The lobby is the only entrance into the building so staff can monitor who's around. (via Brendan Kergin)

The beds are being made, kitchen gear is being unwrapped and the final safety measures are being put in place on 55 units of temporary housing on Mission Flats Road.

Next Tuesday (Nov. 13), the 55 units will become homes to some of the city's homeless, less than three months after being announced.

Bob Hughes, executive director of ASK Wellness, says this is an example of the will of people involved.

"Literally six weeks ago, this piece of land was just that; there was no power, there was no water," he told press at a tour of the site, now called Osborne House. "This was something that seemed absolutely impossible."

Named after Donald Osborne, a long-time member of the Kamloops street community who passed recently, the housing used to be used as lodging at Mica Dam on Kinbasket Lake, north of Revelstoke. Since the decision on Aug. 17 to go forward with the project, Hughes says he's proud of what's been accomplished by all the groups involved.

"This was all because of the fact winter was coming and we didn't have places for people to go," he says. "But this is an example of what political will can do to make something happen."

There's more to the project than just a roof over people's heads.

The structure is set up with two floors of bedrooms with a couple of common rooms, laundry facilities and mechanical rooms along a long hallway. At the east end is the entrance along with a medical services room, office space, a dining room and a kitchen, which will be staffed to provide three meals a day to the new residents.

Head chef Louis Desbiaux, who used to work in work camps similar to Osborne House, says he and his small team are nearly ready for Tuesday.

"It's pretty good," he says of the kitchen. "For the number of people we've got, it's perfect."

Residents will be able to have regular meals, Desbiaux says, with things like soups and sandwiches for lunch and full dinners with proteins, vegetables and desserts.

Jaime Meints, the nurse who will be on site, says her new job is a dream come true.

"I used to work in corrections. I absolutely love this sort of work," she says.

While she'll be the onsite nurse, Hughes says the plan is to get a couple of physicians to come to the residence on a regular basis, so the people living there don't have to go to the emergency room at Royal Inland Hospital.

The site will be staffed 24/7, as well, with around seven staff during weekly office hours and a few ASK Wellness life skills workers the rest of the time.

Kim Galloway, director of housing for ASK Wellness, says the rooms will provide security and privacy for the people moving in, something they wouldn't have had on the street.

"All rooms are outfitted with televisions, which is key to people having a bit of their private space," she says. "The captain's bed is ideal for this type of living. Everyone has a full washroom."

"Some of these people that we're bringing in have had no opportunity to build healthy connections with their community, and that's what we're going to provide."

She points out the common rooms will give them an area a little larger than their own personal rooms, which are about 150 square feet. The common rooms have cupboards and sinks, along with couches and a TV.

"It'll be fun, you know, on a Saturday night just like we do. We watch a movie on a Saturday, our clients can watch a movie on a Saturday night," she points out.

Robert Sedore, who will be one of the first residents, says the housing will is a big help after his struggles of living on the street.

"I just had a really rough life with drugs and my family and growing up," he says. "I've gone through a lot in my time and I'm happy to be here. This is a good home; it's going to be a good home for me, until we figure out where I'm going to go from here."

The housing is set for three years on Mission Flats. Residents have been selected by B.C. Housing from a list created locally, according to B.C. Housing regional director Ann Howard. Hughes says residents will be paying $375 a month in rent, which is provided by the provincial government. On top of that, the government is providing $800,000 in direct funding to cover operating costs.

A shuttle has also been purchased to transport people to places and bring them home.

Hughes is hopeful about Osborne House.

"You create a recipe in six weeks and then you make the meal, then you sit down and eat it," he says. "Who knows what it's going to taste like when we get everybody in here and figure out how does everybody work together?

"We have some really incredible ingredients," he says.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Osborne as Osbourne. Our apologies for the error.