File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Housing and Homelessness

City of Kamloops CSOs to team with outreach workers in new approach to homelessness

Oct 11, 2022 | 12:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops has announced a new program that will see its Community Services Officers (CSO) paired with outreach workers from local social agencies in an effort to connect people experiencing homelessness to supports.

In a news release, the City says the Community Services Officer Outreach and Response Program will begin November 1, in partnership with the ASK Wellness Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kamloops.

The program will see CSOs and outreach workers paired up 16 hours per day (8:00 a.m. to midnight), seven days a week. The teams will patrol via vehicle, foot and bike to “support a safe and secure environment in commercial centres and corridors and in areas around shelter sites.”

They will also launch a “case management approach” meant to help them identify the health and housing needs of clients in the community.

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 Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

“We hear residents loud and clear on their concerns about health and safety in Kamloops,” said City of Kamloops Community and Protective Services Director Byron McCorkell in the release. “Our partner agencies do great work, and we have been working closely with them to determine how we can support and enhance those efforts to have the greatest impact within the community. This program is an example of that out-of-the-box thinking.”

The program will be funded through the Union of B.C. Municipalities Strengthening Communities’ Services Program.

For the full news release, click here.