Moira House on Kingston Avenue will open April 15 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

SHELTER

Cooking classes, community garden to be part of new Moira House shelter

Apr 6, 2022 | 2:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — Every person who stays at Moira House will have their own private room and workspace.

It will be a step up from a shelter like Merit Place on Laval Cresent. The 41 people staying there are closer to recovery than many others.

“It is an upgrade because it’s that next stage for folks who are ready to work on some goals, whether that is employment, to be stable in recovery, folks who are hoping to get connected back to nature, to their culture, and their Indigenous roots.”

Dawn Himer, supportive housing advisor with BC Housing, added, “They are looking to triage people who are moving along, so if an individual staying in a shelter with just cots and doing really well, then they might be at Merit Place that has the pods. They might be looking for different supports for their mental health or their substance use, and they’re looking to see if there’s any opportunities for educational employment, then they’re going to try and bring those people over to Moira House.”

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The Canadian Mental Health Association, which will run the shelter, says not only will the 41 residents have their own space, but there will be other services available to give people the skills they need to move forward.

“We have a cooking class where they can make meals and transport it to the other shelters,” noted Achoba. “So it’s that next level of recovery for folks and the life skills that come with it.”

While great for clients of CMHA, businesses and residents in the area have concerns. One business next door, in part, is moving its operations due to the new shelter.

As with other shelters in town, CMHA and BC Housing are asking people to come forward with any concerns.

“We came here with that lens of reintegrating into the community and being good neighbours, so we’re striving to work towards that,” said Achoba. “I know there are some concerns from the community, but we are working towards those goals and we can see the results from some of the folks we had from Stuart Wood, for example, moving here. They’re ready to take those steps.”

Himer added, “If somebody is concerned, then get a hold of BC Housing, get a hold of the providers, and let’s take you on a tour of what we do and what services are provided and what our responsibility is to being a good neighbour.”

Moira House is scheduled to open April 15 and will be on Kingston Avenue for at least three years.