Province ups supports for former youth in care, provides no detail about complex care in Kamloops

He knows most of the homeless want a roof over their head.

“All these people that are here, lots of them would like to have a place to stay rather than just a shelter,” said James.

But James knows many on the streets need more than just a home. They need care to deal with their mental health issues.

“I think it’s really badly needed. It should be almost on top of the priority list along with brick-and-mortar housing for low-income people,” he said. “With the onset of these newer drugs that are built in basements and stuff, I’ve noticed there’s a lot more issues out on the streets concerning mental health.”

The province announced Thursday $164 million over three years for complex care across B.C., but the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions stopped short of providing any details about a plan for Kamloops, saying they will come at a later date.

“We’ve been in good contact with Kamloops, also active partipants in our planning process,” noted Sheila Malcolmson. “This is a service that is health authority-led…so we are going to work with health authorities and municipalities to get this new urgently-needed model of housing.”

Housing minister David Eby added, “We’ve been working with [Kamloops] mayor and council about the homelessness situation there, both in identifying temporary shelter spaces but also longer term supportive housing, and as Minister Malcolmson said complex care housing. We’ll need the full spectrum of housing in Kamloops and many communities like Kamloops.”

Eby says where the housing is built and when it’s built will be up to Kamloops council. On a broader scale, Eby noted Kamloops and other B.C. cities desperately need more rental housing.

Helping to make rental housing more affordable is $35 million over three years for former youth in care. The province says it will cover a one-year supplemental income of $1,250 a month.

“There have been various ways for youth to access supports in the past, but there’s been some pretty big hoops to jump through, so this will hopefully be without hoops,” said executive director of A Way Home Kamloops Tangie Genshorek. “There’s still work to do on detailing and we want to be a part of that process, making sure those barriers are removed.”

The province, which says former youth in care contribute to the root of homelessness, will also provide eligible young adults $600 a month in rent — up from the current $375 a month. There’s also excitement about promises for more housing.

“BC Housing talking about creating a lot more units. We know we’re creating Katherine’s Place, 39 units. That’s a significant amount of housing that will help people have some real needs for support,” said Genshorek.

Ground is expected to break on Katherine’s Place on Tranquille Road in the next couple months with the building scheduled to open August 2023.

by Chad Klassen

Province ups supports for former youth in care, provides no detail about complex care in Kamloops

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