Shelter for people experiencing homelessness opens at former Kamloops Greyhound bus station

Feb 7, 2022 | 3:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — One of three shelters for people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops is now open.

The B.C. government announced Monday (Feb. 7) that Merit Place – located at the former Greyhound bus depot at 725 Notre Dame Dr. – will provide 50 beds. The province previously stated Merit Place would take in relocated guests who were staying at Memorial Arena.

“We are very thankful for our community partners who are working with us to deliver the services people need,” Ken Christian, Kamloops’ mayor says. “We appreciate the investment and commitment BC Housing has made in our community to help address the housing needs for those who are most vulnerable.”

The province says guests at Merit Place will have access to sleeping pods – to provide them with increased privacy – and daily warm meals, hygiene facilities, referral to health programming if needed and staff who are available around the clock. The Kamloops chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) will operate the new shelter, which will be open until March 2023.

“CMHA Kamloops continues to deliver on our promise of making mental health services accessible in our community,” Alfred Achoba, executive director CMHA Kamloops executive director says. “Shelters are providing hope to clients that are built on wellness, recovery, case management and community reintegration. This model of service to our community is collaborative in both theory and practice. The results we are seeing speaks to the individual life-changing stories of our clients.”