Rosethorn House, the modular housing units on West Victoria Street, officially opens on Wednesday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

ROSETHORN HOUSE

Latest social housing project bringing hope to former homeless people in Kamloops

Jan 27, 2020 | 5:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — Dan Hall feels like he’s being given a second chance at life. For the first time in more than a decade, he has permanent housing.

“All of a sudden, I’m here, happy as ever,” said Hall. “I’m really stoked. I’m just itching to get into my new place and enjoy my own personal stuff.”

The latest social housing project in Kamloops opens to low-income residents officially on Wednesday. On Monday, media was given a tour of the 42-unit facility on West Victoria Street.

Thirty-six residents will come from The Branch on Royal Avenue, including Hall. The path to stable housing for Hall started last fall when he was invited to stay at the The Branch.

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“A girl Carly from ASK Wellness came to my tent and said ‘Dan, it’s time to pack up your stuff. We found you a place to stay,'” he said.

He’s turned the opportunity into a new lease on life. Rosethorn House — a name agreed upon by all residents living at The Branch — will be run by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The project cost $10.8 million and has an annual operating budget of $980,000.

“There will be lots of integration with our health partners, so Interior Health here,” said CEO of CMHA British Columbia Jonny Morris. “They’ll be connecting into workplace, employment supports, harm-reduction care. So really seeing the citizens here who are living in this space as whole citizens, really looking at all those key needs that are important.”

Monday’s tour of Rosethorn House came after months of delays with geotechnical issues related to slope stability. The construction on West Victoria Street also created major delays.

“Today is a momentous day. It’s been a time coming and that future forward looking is so critical here,” noted Morris. “And I think when you hear from folks like Brett and Dan speaking about the future, that’s really what this day is about.”

The last homeless count in 2018 indicated 201 people in Kamloops don’t have stable housing. The 42 units on West Victoria Street will help ease the homeless problem in the city.

“The housing issue in Kamloops is built along a continuum, and certainly this is adding to the supportive housing piece, and I think we’ve done a good job there,” said mayor of Kamloops Ken Christian.

For Hall, having a place to himself gives him hope for the future as he tries to get his life back on track.

“I basically told myself ‘well, you’re not going to accomplish anything living on the streets. You may as well go forward in life.’ Here I am, in the brand new building, and hopefully everything goes well.”

CMHA BC says The Branch on Royal Avenue will officially close on Feb. 10 when the last of the residents move into the modular units.