Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Aaron Schulze

Kamloops Social Issue Changes

Kamloops housing options must commit to wraparound services and washrooms, business areas getting security patrol

Mar 2, 2021 | 7:36 PM

KAMLOOPS — Nearly four hours of dialogue at Kamloops council’s special meeting on Tuesday (March 2) saw multiple key motions approved.

All current and future transitional and supportive housing options must now commit to providing wrap-around support services such as 24/7 security, daily on-site nursing staff (if required), and weekly mental health and addictions counselling. In a 5-3 vote, Mayor Ken Christian and Councillors Kathy Sinclair and Arjun Singh were opposed.

In council chambers, Singh said he couldn’t support the motion because 24/7 security would be an expensive cost for all the homes. Christian said it could suppress further supportive housing in Kamloops because of requirements that is inconsistent with other communities. Sinclair said there was no mention of who would cover the costs; she could support B.C. Housing covering the costs, but not the social agencies.

Similarly, in a 5-3 vote during a separate motion, council now requires all current and future B.C. Housing projects to provide wrap-around support services and public washrooms. Councillor Dieter Dudy, Christian, and Singh opposed.

Elsewhere, the 24/7 security patrol for the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Area and the Tranquille Market business corridor – until the city’s community services officer program is fully staffed – was amended. Instead, an 8/7 security patrol – eight hours a day, seven days per week – was passed 6-2. Christian and Sinclair opposed.

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Council also approved:

• an independent review of the outcomes of current housing projects in Kamloops and the outcomes of the individuals who accessed housing options and associated support programs
• to request a meeting between the City of Kamloops and senior staff at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Mental Health Addictions regarding the need for a sobering centre in Kamloops, and an increase in detox and recovery beds
• to create a security camera registrations program for private business who own cameras that monitor public spaces, so they can forward footage to Kamloops RCMP

A noteworthy motion of spending $500,000 of federal and provincial safe restart funding on relieving street issues was also amended. No funding was approved, although the city may come up with street relief ideas that can be funded via safe restart and other avenues.