The Loop Drop-In Center at 405 Tranquille Road in Kamloops/via Google Street View
The operator of the Loop Drop-In Centre says he has no answer as to when they will have to vacate their building at 405 Tranquille Road.
The building was purchased by Brendan Shaw of Brendan Shaw Real Estate in April – and originally the drop-in centre was supposed to vacate the premises in 20 days.
That move-out date was put on hold as it became clear the loss of the low-barrier day shelter space – in addition to the announced pending closure of The Mustard Seed’s day room – could pose serious problems.
Loop Operator Glenn Hilke says the much-talked-about North Shore Access Hub has been progressing too slowly and that a crisis is imminent.
“When the city says they’re hoping – hoping for something by winter – I mean Jesus. How can you just be hoping when we’re talking about winter?” Hilke said. “They’ve had plenty of time to do this, there has to be a deeper story here as to why this is not happening.”
“Also why isn’t there more transparency? Why does this have to be such a hush-hush affair?”
While there are reports the city is set to lose both The Loop and The Mustard Seed day room on July 31 – Hilke says – that’s news to him as he hasn’t signed off on anything yet, and that he has months left on his lease.
Sources in the non-profit community in Kamloops have privately painted a picture of confusion and frustration with the slow pace of progress when it comes to the North Shore Access Hub. At times, some have expressed that they don’t even know who has the lead on the file – the City of Kamloops or BC Housing.
“We deserve to hear more and be kept up to date as to what is happening or why things are not happening?” Hilke said.
“Each and every day we help people get to their pharmacy, to a legal appointment, to the ER. We help people get into rehab in other cities because we don’t have those facilities here, not to mention clothing and so on and so forth. That is what drop in centres do.”
The city of Kamloops has said they hoped to add a low barrier day space component to the North Shore Access Hub, which is expected to be operational before winter.
But sources in the non-profit sector have told Radio NL that BC Housing – who has the lead on the file – doesn’t pay for shelter spaces – so in addition to confusion over when and where The Hub will be, there is now confusion over just who will pay for the day space component.
