48 West Victoria Street (Image credit - CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

The Gathering Place

Kamloops council being asked to approve return of downtown day space for homeless population

Apr 13, 2025 | 8:00 AM

KAMLOOPS — City councillors in Kamloops are being asked to issue another short-term permit to allow the The Mustard Seed to continue operations at The Gathering Place at 48 Victoria Street West.

In a report going before Tuesday’s (April 15) council meeting, staff recommend that council issue a short-term facility use permit for 2025, as they have done each year since the summer of 2021.

Report author Natasha Hartson, the city’s acting social, housing and community development manager, said The Mustard Seed plans to operate The Gathering Place for seven hours a day, Tuesday to Sunday between late April and late September.

“Currently, there are limited outreach services available during weekends beyond the city’s Community Service Officer (CSO) Outreach Response team in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association and ASK Wellness,” Hartson wrote. “The Gathering Place will help fill a much needed gap in support.”

In 2024, The Mustard Seed was given $465,000 in federal Reaching Home program funds to operate The Gathering Place until 2026. According to the City of Kamloops, the site had 3,366 total visits in 2024.

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“Kamloops, like many other communities across Canada, is facing a social crisis characterized by a rise in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness,” Hartson wrote.

“Services and supports that help with immediate crisis response are critically important. The Gathering Place provides an important service for unhoused individuals to access basic needs services.”

Hartson says 48 Victoria Street West is centrally located, accessible, and close to a number of other services, including shelters, Interior Health at 235 Lansdowne Street, as well as the Mustard Seed’s Health and Wellness Centre located down the road.

That Victoria Street West location is also home to Cllémentem, a mini-storage facility operated by the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, that also offers access to showers and laundry facilities.

“With the closure of alternative indoor day spaces, The Gathering Place plays a crucial role in providing low-barrier access to essential support and resources for the unhoused population during daytime hours,” Hartson wrote.

“The program is focused on creating a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can access basic needs, such as food, washrooms, clothing, hygiene supplies and health supports. [It] provides an opportunity for individuals to rest, build connections and feel a sense of belonging, making them feel valued as part of the community.”

Hartson said staff at The Gathering Place will connect people to supports and services available to them, which she said “can be key to breaking the cycle of homelessness.”

“Overall, the space helps promote dignity, stability and opportunities for unhoused individuals in our community,” Hartson said.

“City staff have worked with The Mustard Seed to ensure surrounding property owners have been notified and provided a contact information sheet. As the operator, The Mustard Seed will liaise with surrounding property owners to address any concerns.”