File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Shelter Space

B.C. Housing extends lease for Merit Place shelter until 2025

Apr 17, 2023 | 2:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — The homeless shelter set up at the former Greyhound station on Notre Dame Drive will remain in operation for the next two years.

Merit Place opened in February 2022, operated by the Kamloops branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) with 50 beds set aside for people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops.

According to the province, CMHA will continue to run the shelter.

However, Alfred Achoba, Executive Director of the CMHA Kamloops branch, said they will only be operating the shelter for another year.

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“Over the next year, our goal is to work with the province and city to look for more long-term solutions for the clients who are currently staying at Merit Place,” Achoba said.

“Then work with the city and BC housing to transition the shelter to another provider.”

The B.C. Housing lease of the site was set to expire in June of this year. However, in a news release issued Monday (April 17), B.C. Housing announced the lease has been extended to March 2025.

“It’s an opportunity to continue to build on some of the progress we have seen with our clients with those who are moving to recovery, folks who have found employment, and there are many areas people have seen growth and we would love to build on that,” Achoba said.

In addition, B.C. Housing has announced the Stuart Wood School shelter on St. Paul Street in downtown Kamloops will continue to operate through the summer and fall. The facility, operated by the Out of the Cold foundation, offers 25 beds to people experiencing homelessness.

The province says it will add new fencing and security measures to both facilities.

In addition to the leases, B.C. Housing is providing operating funds of $2 million and $1.26 million for Merit Place and the Stuart Wood shelter, respectively.

B.C. Housing adds it is “working with the City of Kamloops and local community partners to identify additional shelter locations.”