While nothing is finalized, its being suggested the new tranche of complex care beds for those with addiction and mental health issues recently announced for Kamloops will likely end up in one location.
“Really great to see that announcement and we’re working with the province quite actively to on identifying a location and moving that project forward,” said Carmin Mazzotta, the City of Kamloops’ Assistant Director of Community and Cultural Services in an interview with Radio NL.
While not able to confirm the 20 new beds will be located in a single site, as talks with the BC Government are ongoing, Mazzotta does say this has been a long-standing goal in Kamloops.
“Going back to Mayor Ken Christian and then right through the current council, has been advocating for a purpose-built complex care housing facility in Kamloops, before it was even announced in the recent provincial homelessness plan,” noted Mazzotta.
Mazzotta does also confirm their goal is to have the new beds located near a primary health care facility, which suggests a likely location could be near Royal Inland Hospital.
“We would be working closely with our provincial partners to try and secure a site that has those complimentary health services in proximity,” said Mazzotta. “That’s a very active conversation at present. It’s not my purview to be able to state where that’s going to be yet.”
The 20 previously-announced complex care beds in Kamloops are spread out in different locations around the city.
Those sites have not been publicly revealed due to privacy concerns for those who enter into treatment, as well as over concerns about community push-back.
For its part, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, which announced the new batch of complex care beds for Kamloops, isn’t tipping its hand yet either.
“In some communities, these will be stand-alone buildings. In others, CCH [Complex-Care Housing] units may be combined with supportive housing or other affordable housing,” said the Ministry in a statement to Radio NL. “These new units are being delivered as part of the Province’s 10-year Homes for People action plan that will increase the housing supply for those that need it.”
More details from the province on the 20 new beds — including who the service provider will be — are expected to be announced within the next few weeks.