File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

Homeless Resources

Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners opening two day spaces for homeless population in Kamloops

Jul 21, 2021 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — The street affected population in Kamloops will have more resources available within a week’s time.

Two day spaces will be opening within the city — one on the North Shore and the other on the South Shore.

The North Shore location will be called Envision, located on 346 Campbell Ave. behind the Northbridge Hotel and Suites, led by the Canadian Mental Health Association, ASK Wellness, the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society and Interior Community Services.

On the south side, the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society and the Mustard Seed, will lead the Gathering Place. Both day spaces will serve as spots where people can be connected to housing and support services. There will be outreach workers on site while the site is operating.

The unique aspect to the day spaces, according to Kamloops’ Social, Housing and Community Development Manager Carmin Mazzotta, is they’re a collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous services to provide a culturally safe space, along with resources and support.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: North Shore BIA working hard to develop a 'happening place'

44m ago

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

“One of the striking pieces in terms of the information and the Point-In-Times counts… nearly 50 per cent of individuals experiencing homelessness in the community self identifies as Indigenous,” Mazzotta said. “That’s a really significant over-representation of Indigenous people, in that Indigenous people comprise around 10 per cent of overall Kamloops residents according to the census data. Also, less than one in five individuals who are Indigenous experiencing homelessness were accessing shelter at the time of the count.

Mazzotta said the data is concerning and highlights the importance of providing culturally safe spaces for people experiencing homelessness, while applying an Indigenous lens to connect people to housing and support services.

Both day spaces will be open for four months throughout summer and fall 2021. The North Shore location will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., while the south shore location will be open between noon and 8:00 p.m. Both sites will be cleaned overnight.