The operator of the Loop on the North Shore is suggesting the City of Kamloops adopt its own “extreme cold weather” policy to help out the homeless during the daytime.

Glenn Hilke suggests this could be similar to what is done during the summer months during “extreme heat,” when city-run facilities are opened up.

At the same time, Hilke says he’s becoming concerned about maintaining enough staff to keep The Loop open — as it is right now — from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily during this cold snap.

“When we have 30 plus people constantly in our centre, we are at max capacity and we really want to have a minimum of three staff ideally four.”
However, he notes there is only one other place right now in Kamloops where people can find daytime heat.

“The Mustard Seed has its day room, and it does serve to keep people warm but that’s not an additional resource.”

Since the Loop as well as the Church have been at full capacity since the weekend, Hilke suggests the so-called “hidden homeless” are putting more strain on the system.

“These are people who are living in their vehicles and some of them are seniors actually, and then we also see people who might have an opportunity to couch surf once in a while but for whatever reason, that is not available to them.”

Right now, the Loop and the Mustard Seed downtown are the only locations that will accept the homeless in Kamloops during daytime hours, even though daily highs are around -20, with the wind chill making it feel like -30.