While Kamloops has been identified as a ‘priority’ for a complex care facility, the B.C. Government is still tight lipped on when it might actually be announced.

So far Surrey, Abbotsford, and Vancouver have had these facilities announced, and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Sheila Malcolmson, says to expect that announcement for other communities in the coming weeks.

“I’m grateful to Kamloops council and all the municipalities that helped us build the complex care housing model. We’ve been keeping the urban mayors caucus and the Union of BC Municipalities well informed,” she said Thursday.

“For the next wave of complex care housing, we will be standing with municipal leaders and making those announcements. We recognize municipal leaders are at the very front edge of that.”

Malcolmson did say the government will spend $164 million over three years to expand complex-care housing program, which is meant to house people who may need more supports than what the current model of supportive housing can provide.

But she was tight lipped when pressed for details by reporters.

“This is a service that is health authority led and it is the Premier’s and my commitment that this will be available in every health authority. January’s announcement only affected two health authorities but again, chosen just based on which ones we could start moving people into by fiscal year end,” Malcolmson added.

“Every community in the province is contending with a rising tide in demand for substance use and mental health services. When we took government in 2017, we started building that system of care for mental health and addictions that didn’t exist before but the pandemic in every way has been a step back.”

“It is very hard for every community, including Kamloops. I am feeling it in my own home as well,” she added.

Earlier this year, Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian called on the government to build a complex care facility in the City, noting there were about 30 people on the streets who would immediately benefit.

“It is primarily to meet the needs of individuals which have chronic untreated mental illness complicated by addition and now further complicated by acquired brain injury,” Christian said at a TNRD Board meeting.

“In and of themselves, they are creating a great deal of chaos both for business and for customers and most importantly, their health needs are not being met by the current housing continuum.”