Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

By Jill Sperling

Cold Weather Shelters

Cold weather shelters expect higher numbers as temperatures drop

Jan 9, 2020 | 5:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a relatively mild winter in Kamloops so far, but with more snow on the way and a drop in temperatures next week, local shelters are preparing for increased numbers.

At the Mustard Seed, they’re expecting more people to utilize the Winter Refuge program.

“We’re already prepared and we’re aware, especially for Saturday and Sunday, the weather is going to get worse and we’re prepared for the situation,” said Oscar Mtomboki, manager of outreach and advocacy services at the Mustard Seed.

The Winter Refuge program has been operating out of The Mustard Seed’s dining room for about a month.

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With 30 available mats, the shelter has yet to reach capacity.

“The highest we have gone is 27,” Mtomboki said. “Last night we had 25 and the night before we had 19 people showing up. We are expecting the number to go up, but we’re still good.”

In 2018, Kamloops participated in the national Point-in-Time Homelessness Count.

The count found around 200 people experiencing homelessness. Since then, there have been several new housing developments in Kamloops.

“We’ve had Mission Flats, introduced 55 new beds,” said Ty Helgason, the City’s Housing and Homelessness project manager. “Spero House opened up with another 55 new beds, the Branch on the North Shore opened up with 35 new beds and CMHA will be opening a new modular development on Victoria Street West coming up very soon.”

According to the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association in B.C., Jonny Morris, the new building will open in late January or February. It will provide around 40 beds and harm reduction services.

“These are valuable resources, absolutely,” said Morris. “I think provincially and locally there’s a wide recognition that we’re in the grips of a housing crisis still, notwithstanding the investments that are being made by the province to improve that scenario.”

Meantime, the Emerald Centre next door has been at capacity over the past few weeks.

“I think that is reflective of the need in the community there and of course with the adverse weather on the horizon … So 55 beds and they’ve been at full capacity,” Morris said.

In December, Out of the Cold announced the CMHA Clubhouse on Seymour Street as its new location for the twice-weekly program.

However, its opening has been delayed.

“I think what’s underway right now is a continued investigation of options,” Morris said. “There’s been coverage over the past while around the investigation into the building itself and whether it can actually meet this need, to serve a warming centre, and those processes are still underway.”

Whether the absence of the Out of the Cold program will have a significant impact on capacity at other shelters remains to be seen.

In March, the Point-in-Time Homelessness Count will help determine whether new housing initiatives are accomplishing their intended purpose.