The old gym at Stuart Wood is one of two temporary shelters to operate this winter (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

WINTER SHELTERS

CMHA refuses to operate temporary shelters in effort to push for more permanent housing

Oct 27, 2022 | 11:23 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Canadian Mental Health Association feels there are too many people on the street who aren’t getting the proper help they need.

“When you look at the housing continuum, individuals are meant to move from street to shelter and from shelter into housing, and we don’t have that,” said executive director of CMHA Kamloops Alfred Achoba.

It’s why the non-profit has opted out of operating two temporary shelters in the city, one at the old Stuart Wood and the other at the Yacht Club. Alfred Achoba hopes to send a message to the city and the province to provide more permanent housing for the homeless.

“We’ve seen people for far too long stay in shelters without making that transition, and so we decided it wasn’t appropriate to run another shelter this year, given the conditions we have in our current shelters,” said Achoba.

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Now, the City of Kamloops has to find another operator to run the shelters. Out of the Cold, which operated the Stuart Wood facility last year three days a week with federal funding, is an option the city is looking at.

“The discussions with the Out of the Cold program are ongoing,” said the city’s social, housing and community development manager Carmin Mazzotta.

“They have three days a week of funding allocated to them, so they are building to that capacity. Now, with this recent change, again it’s going to take discussions and BC Housing’s involvement as well to see if, say, that program or perhaps another service provider can build to that seven-day-a-week capacity.”

In a statement to CFJC Today, BC Housing, which funds shelters throughout the province, says it’s searching for a new shelter and “will update the community when they are identified.”

“In the meantime, the Merit Place, Moira House, Emerald Centre, Mustard Seed and Harbour House shelters will continue to operate, providing a combined 176 spaces to people in need,” the statement reads.

CMHA’s decision means the city will likely have to push back the initial planned Nov. 1 opening at the Yacht Club and the old Stuart Wood.

Achoba says the non-profit has seen financial supports drop in the city and help for the homeless is on a short-term basis. He wants all levels of government to come together and create more permanent solutions.

“Until we have a plan for the folks we have currently in our shelters, we shouldn’t be opening more shelters,” he said. “We need to start creating more housing for people to be able to transition out of shelter,” he said.

In terms of the city working to create more permanent housing, Mazzotta says the city can provide land for affordable housing projects to be built, but beyond that it’s up to agencies like BC Housing to fund it.

However, he notes the city has been working to make more affordable housing projects happen.

“There has been 300 supportive housing units added in our community in the last five years. There has been nearly 300 affordable rental units added in our community in the last five years,” said Mazzotta. “And there are hundreds more affordable housing units identified or in development currently.”

The Stuart Wood shelter will have room for 24 people, while the Yacht Club will space for between 12 to 15 people.