North Shore business owners ‘cautiously optimistic’ with new bridge housing

Many of the other businesses on the North Shore that were surveyed on Friday also feel cautiously optimistic but are excited things seem to be moving forward.

“There’s still some reluctance,” said executive director of the North Shore Business Improvement Association Jeremy Heighton. “What is it going to look like? What is it really going to be like once it happens? What will the impacts be? But I think overall, it’s a sense of ‘Oh, thank God we have changes we can move forward as a community.’ There’s some opportunity here. There’s a great operator coming to the table who’s got a great reputation in town.”

The operator will be the Canadian Mental Health Association who will oversee the project until the spring when the 104 modular units are ready on both sides of the river.

“The intention is to bring folks in through the winter and through the spring time until both of the modular sites are finished, the one on Tranquille and the one on West Victoria,” said executive direcotor the Kamloops CMHA Christa Mullaly. “When those sites are finished, our intention will be to put more folks from this bridge housing into permanent housing.”

While Uliana is on board with the plan, he is worried the camps behind his restaurant and liquor stores will be filled by other homeless people in the community.

“What’s going to happen to the places that are becoming vacant? Like the camp on the river. Other homeless people are going to take over those place,” noted Uliana. “And once the bridge open, who’s going to be responsible for incidents that we have already been having.”

The temporary beds add to the 55 temporary units being built on Mission Flats Road, and the 13 additional shelter beds coming to Emerald Centre on Nov. 1.

“We’re in a better place and we’ll be in an even better place come Nov. 1,” said Mullaly, noting the additional 13 beds will bring the total number to 55 at Emerald Centre. “One of the intentions with this particular bridge housing project is, the folks that come in to stay with us will stay, so it’ll certainly reduce the number of folks coming and going from this site.”

by Chad Klassen

North Shore business owners ‘cautiously optimistic’ with new bridge housing

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