City of Kamloops seeking new housing solutions during pandemic

Photo: Brendan Kergin

A member of the Kamloops street community in Riverside Park.

The City of Kamloops is considering municipal facilities and parks as shelter for the city's homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press release, the city states administration has been in discussion with BC Housing, Interior Health and social agencies about how to support vulnerable populations during the global crisis. This includes people experiencing homelessness, under-housed people, people with complex care needs, and people with mental health and substance use needs.

“We’re focused on the safety and health of all residents of our community,” Mayor Ken Christian says in the release. “We know that this population is particularly vulnerable to infection and may not have the ability to follow best practices for prevention or treatment on their own.”

Given that shelter for the homeless often requires individuals to sleep in close quarters, the province is working on solutions that would help limit the spread of COVID-19.

"These solutions include identifying alternative locations for shelter residents that allow for proper physical distancing as well as the isolation of high-risk or symptomatic individuals," states the city in the release.

City staff are now looking at city facilities and parks as possible shelter sites.

“This is an unprecedented time in our community, and it’s not business as usual,” says Christian. “Our primary objective at this point is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and minimize its impact on our community.”