Genesis Place resident Joe Gosselin is enjoying his new home on Fortune Drive (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

GENESIS PLACE

Culturally safe Indigenous spaces the focus at new Genesis Place

Feb 28, 2023 | 5:03 PM

KAMLOOPS — Joe Gosselin has had a challenge finding stable housing, bouncing from place to place in the last few years — from couch surfing to rooming with friends.

“Me being on disability and trying to find a place for myself, a clean place. A lot of places are really expensive out there and it’s really hard to find [a place] with lots of agencies in town — I had to hit all the agencies in town to find a place to live,” noted Gosselin.

Last October, he moved into Genesis Place, a new affording housing unit at the old Fortune Motel.

“It’s actually been pretty nice. I really enjoy living here. This is actually one of the best places I’ve lived in,” he said. “The people and the staff here are really supportive. Anyone that lives here, really good people that live here.”

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There are 28 units at Genesis Place, a step up from supportive housing.

“Many of the clients who are here are independent. We have our peer program. They go out, they clean the streets, they shovel snow for the neighbours,” CMHA Kamloops executive director Alfred Achoba. “The folks who are here are pretty stable and looking for a safe space, trying to connect with their friends, their brothers and sisters.”

Genesis Place is located at the old Fortune Motel (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

But unlike any other place in the city, the Canadian Mental Health Association has ensured it is Indigenous-focused and a culturally safe space.

“We’ve found an over-representation of Indigenous individuals who need housing tailored to them, and so that’s what we’ve done here at Genesis Place,” said Achoba. “It’s the first of its kind. It’s modelled around Indigenous housing. We have an elder on site, we have peer counselling. That’s the type of housing we’re creating.”

The site has a recreational space with a pool table and other games, as well as a cultural wall that’s meant to provide calm and peace to the residents. Achoba hopes the Indigenous-based approach spreads across the province.

For Gosselin, he’s grateful to have found a place at Genesis.

“Like I said, the staff here at CMHA really helped me out quite a bit. I’m really, really thankful to be here,” he said.

With a large parking lot — where a separate 12-unit building once sat — CMHA is hoping to build more units in the future to welcome more clients like Gosselin.