Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

PREVENTING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

Construction of Katherine’s Place youth housing on track for year-end completion

Jun 26, 2024 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a delay at the start, construction on Katherine’s Place, a new affordable housing building for youth in Kamloops, is now on track to be finished by the end of this year.

The development’s name is an homage to Katherine McParland, the organization’s late founder. The building will offer 39 new units for youth between the ages of 19 and 26.

“We have 32 bachelor suites and seven one-bedrooms, and we also have a nice big activity space. We’ve got a commercial kitchen there so we’ll be preparing some meals and working with youth to learn how to prepare meals and meal plan and things like that,” explains A Way Home’s executive director, Tangie Genshorek.

It’s a step beyond the existing Safe Suites run by A Way Home Kamloops, which currently house six youth. Those individuals will be moving into Katherine’s Place, which already has a waiting list of 75 people.

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“This particular housing is going to have 24/7 support,” says Genshorek. “We’re going to be looking for youth that need that level of support but who are also ready to set some goals for themselves. Goals around housing independence, employment, education, finishing Grade 12 or going to TRU, things like that, that we can help with.”

Residents are expected to be able to start moving in by late December. Anyone trying to get on the waiting list is encouraged to come to A Way Home Kamloops’ new office location at 622 Tranquille Road, during youth drop-in hours on Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.