New manager will be responsible for housing, community development and emergency support services

Photo: Castanet Staff

The City of Kamloops will be hiring a new social and housing manager for its community and protective services department.

In a statement released Tuesday, the city said the new manager will lead projects and initiatives related to housing, community development and emergency support services.

According to the city, the manager “will play a critical role in ensuring the city is proactively positioned to support potential solutions to the current crisis evolving on our streets.”

“Cities across Canada are grappling with the complexity of social, health and housing issues,” the statement said.

“Developing supported housing, supporting community partners in providing wrap-around programs and services and advocating for more affordable housing will be the key responsibilities of this new manager.”

According to the statement, the City of Kamloops created the community and protective services department in 2018 in order to bring together divisions that impact residents’ quality of life, like Kamloops Fire Rescue, RCMP support services, community services and the recreation and culture department.

In the past year, the CPS department reviewed the city’s Bylaw Services division, which was restructured to become community services.

The city said recruitment for the department's new social and housing manager will begin soon, with the objective of filling the position this spring.