While a specific location has not been publicly identified, it seems the City of Kamloops is close to finalizing a new location for the North Shore Access Hub for the homeless.

“At the July 16, 2024, Closed Council Meeting, Council authorized Administration to secure a North Shore site to provide 24/7, year-round shelter services, with meals, hygienic facilities, amenity space, and connections to housing, social and health services, supportive employment, and wellness opportunities in alignment with the access hub vision of the Kamloops Access Hub Leadership Committee,” said the City in a statement issued Tuesday morning.

“The City is working to finalize the purchase, at which time additional details will be shared with the community. Council’s intention is to transition the property to BC Housing, whose role will be to work with urgency to identify a shelter operator and operationalize the site. The City has also engaged Interior Health regarding health services to be provided at the site,” continued the City.

The City says the proposed site will also be zoned to allow the creation of a multi-use residential component on the site.

“Council is keenly aware of the fact that there is no year-round low barrier shelter site on the North Shore. We strongly support the access hub vision created by the North Shore Business Improvement Association and our community partner agencies,” said Deputy Mayor Nancy Bepple. “The City had the ability to act more quickly than our provincial partners to secure this opportunity. We decided to take leadership and make things happen. We are eager to see BC Housing and community partners open this site as soon as possible.”

The City says the Hub will include on-site security measures.

It also says the location will “feature strong community interface management practices to ensure accountability and responsiveness.”

“Over the last 18 months, the North Shore Business Improvement Association have been advocating for a more robust service delivery model to engage street entrenched people in our community as well as support community interface management,” said Jeremy Heighton, Executive Director of the NSBIA.

“The news today that we are close to securing a site is a significant boost to the extensive behind the scenes work that community leaders, City of Kamloops staff and Council, agencies and government have been undertaking. We are feeling optimistic about the pathway forward for street level services on the North Shore,” added Heighton.

The City also says it intends to continue working with the province for additional day spaces and drop-in centers.