Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

A WAY HOME KAMLOOPS

After years of work, McParland’s dream of Safe Suites for homeless youth opens in Kamloops

Dec 9, 2019 | 5:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a long journey for Katherine McParland since she aged out of the foster system. But today, she, along with dozens of other community members and staff of her non-profit ‘A Way Home Kamloops’, was able to celebrate. That’s because they held the official grand opening of their new Safe Suites facility on the North Shore.

There were a whole bunch of ribbons to cut at Monday’s Safe Suites opening; each ribbon represented a barrier that homeless youth in our community have overcome to get into Safe Suites. Each ribbon was also there for someone who helped remove those barriers to cut.

“Today, we are able to reclaim the future for young people who have experienced a lot of trauma and victimization on the streets,” McParland said at the opening. “This will be a safe place where they can find healing, connection, and a sense of belonging.”

Several youths who have gone through A Way Home’s program were on hand for the ribbon-cutting. Quentin Courtoreillie and Angell Olsen will be Youth Advisors for Safe Suites. They’ll help guide the youth in the program and offer support where they can.

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“Most us might have come from foster families, and some didn’t grow up with an original biological family, so they don’t actually know what that sense of home is,” Courtoreillie explained. “We’re trying to give both a visual and a feel of what a home should be.”

A Way Home has been working to help youth experiencing homelessness in Kamloops find safe places to live for several years. However, Safe Suites will be unique, as it will offer essential supports to some of the most at-risk youth, A Way Home helps.

“When I first went into safe housing, I had someone check up on me,” Olsen said. “They brought me Chinese food. It was just so – having that support 24/7, and knowing someone was there to check up on you gave a sense of familiarity.”

“Each youth here will receive a case manager, and they’ll develop a wellness plan around all types of different goals,” McParland explained. “We’ll be providing on-site counseling, life skills training, meal support, and connections to health.”

A Way Home has been working hard, raising over $100,000 for Safe Suites. The project got a huge boost when the province agreed to fund the facility, which ensures the 24 hours, seven days a week supports for these youth will be met.

“We’re just so excited,” McParland told CFJC Today. “Just to see that the community cares about these kids so much, to be able to make a long-lasting and significant difference – we’re beyond grateful.”