Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to share the story of my dear friend — a strong, resilient mother of two boys — who recently lost everything. Their beautiful off-grid float home on Kootenay Lake was seized and towed away by the provincial government, leaving them with nothing but heartbreak.

They’ve already endured unimaginable loss — including the passing of their husband and father. And now this.

Their off-grid float home — fully sustainable, lovingly built, and filled with life. Has now been seized and boarded up.

For over three years, they lived peacefully on Kootenay Lake in a handcrafted float home - a fully self-sufficient, eco-friendly family home. They made every effort to comply with provincial regulations, but the government ultimately deemed the home to be trespassing on Crown land under the water.

They reached out to every marina and moorage facility — none could host them due to insurance restrictions.

They attempted to moor in front of private land — still not permitted.

They registered the home as a vessel, demonstrated proof of navigation, and even petitioned to reopen the province’s float home community policy to create a regulated path forward.

All proposals were denied. No alternatives were offered.

In the end, they were given two impossible choices:

Pay a massive fee to dismantle their home themselves,

or move into low-income housing while the province demolished it — and still be billed for the destruction

Neither option was viable. And so, the home was taken.

The heartbreaking moment their home was taken — with no help, no options, and no way to stop it.

This wasn’t just a structure on water — it was their dream. A 3-bedroom, off-grid, year-round family home powered by sustainable systems: composting toilet, greywater system, wood stove. It offered a way of life that was minimal, respectful to nature, and entirely self-reliant.

It also supported a thriving micro-ecosystem of birds, fish, otters, and more — all living in harmony, with no harm to the shoreline or surrounding habitat.

The home was being purchased through a rent-to-own agreement and was worth over $60,000 . Its seizure not only displaced this family, but also impacted a member of the Lower Kootenay Band, further compounding the injustice.

A grieving mother and her two boys, already having lost their husband and father, are now left in a financial crisis. The emotional trauma and financial toll are devastating

They faced relentless pressure, harassment, and threats during the process

A member of the Lower Kootenay Band has come forward in support, recognizing this is not an isolated case. Rural, Indigenous, and off-grid communities across BC are experiencing similar displacements. The province continues to ignore their voices.

This is bigger than one family. The forced removal of their float home sends a chilling message to others choosing to live simply, sustainably, and independently.

We need a fair, transparent, and humane float home community policy that allows for regulated, environmentally responsible water-based living.

This is about:

How You Can Help

Please consider supporting this family as they work to rebuild their lives from scratch. Funds raised will go toward:

If you know of lawyers specializing in land use, housing rights, float homes, or wrongful seizure, please reach out. Your expertise could make a life-changing difference.

This family wanted only to live in peace — close to nature, in a home they built with love, without harming the earth. They asked for solutions, tried every path available, and were still cast aside.

Now, they’re picking up the pieces. And they can’t do it alone.

Please donate, share, or simply spread the word. Your support — in any form means everything.

Let’s come together to show this family, and others like them, that they are not alone.

With gratitude and love,

Jakua Jordan

There are articles in the Nelson Star cast net and several other articles have been published about her fight to keep her home

https://www.nelsonstar.com/news/facing-eviction-kootenay-mom-living-on-floating-home-pleads-for-reprieve-4997521?utm_source=Email_Share&utm_medium=Email_Share&utm_campaign=Email_Share