Merit Place, Stuart Wood shelter leases extended by one year

“That is the busiest shelter we have in town. It is the largest in town and so I think this extension speaks to the need and the value that it brings to Kamloops,” Achoba said. “Receiving that assurance definitely, I think, was something that was much needed.”

Achoba also said CMHA is continuing to work on a long-term solution for the shelter at the former Greyhound bus station as that property is slated to be redeveloped into a car wash. At this time, it is not clear how this lease extension affects those redevelopment plans.

“It’s a temporary building, and so running a shelter in that building is one of the most challenging situations we’re in given that we don’t have control around the design and things that like,” Achoba said. “Our exit plan really falls on the conversations that we’re going to have with the City and with BC Housing around what they see as the long term option for that shelter.”

“With Merit Place being so low barrier, a shelter like that is needed but I think what we’re looking for now is how do we move people into more housing rather than creating more shelters.”

Achoba also said CMHA has seen people who have been averaging almost two years in shelters, and that some of them “are ready to move into housing.”

“I would say that my first priority would be for us to bring in more housing, but if we don’t get there, then definitely shelter is an alternative while we figure out more long-term hosing-focused solutions,” Achoba added. “Part of our goal is to bring in more housing where we can triage clients into housing or into other shelters that we have, maybe recovery focused ones or ones where we work on more direct life skills.”

“There are clients who have multiple mental health and physical health issues, but generally speaking, they want some kind of housing so if we can bring housing for people, that is a definitely a plus.”

In a statement to CFJC Today, BC Housing confirmed that 25 beds at the Stuart Wood shelter have been extended to April 30, 2026. Another 10 beds for seniors will continue to operate 24 hours per day until Sept. 30, 2025.

CFJC Today has reached out to Out of the Cold about its plans for the Stuart Wood shelter. The previous lease for that shelter on St. Paul Street expired at the end of April.

The Merit Place shelter has been operating since February 2022, while Out of the Cold has been based out of Stuart Wood School since late 2021. It transitioned to a seven day a week shelter in November 2022.

“The extension will ensure people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops have longer access to shelter space as we work to bring more permanent options and more affordable housing options to the community,” BC Housing said, in a statement.

“Since 2017, the Province and BC Housing have worked with local partners to open more than 270 supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Kamloops, and we continue to work on adding supportive housing in Kamloops and throughout B.C.”

by Victor Kaisar

Merit Place, Stuart Wood shelter leases extended by one year

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