Council voted in favour of several recommendations regarding supportive housing in Kamloops

Photo: Castanet Staff

Council voted to approve a series of recommendations targeted at reviewing supportive housing options and increasing wrap-around services in a motion brought forward by Coun. Bill Sarai.

In a special council meeting Tuesday, councillors spent nearly four hours discussing motions from Sarai and Coun. Dale Bass, each bringing forward multiple suggestions for addressing issues related to mental health, addictions, security and the street-embedded population.

In an earlier interview with Castanet Kamloops, Sarai said the bulk of his motion was to address a lack of services available in the city, including detox and recovery beds, and access to mental health and addictions counselling.

One of Sarai’s recommendations suggested all currently operating and future transitional and supportive housing options must commit to providing additional support services to their clients, including 24/7 security services, access to weekly mental health or addictions counselling and daily nursing staff, where required.

In Tuesday's council meeting, Coun. Arjun Singh said that he had concerns with the blanket nature of the motion.

“To me, it’s an ultimatum negotiation,” he said.

“I think this is a very wrong message to send.”

Singh also said security is an expensive service to provide, a concern shared by Coun. Kathy Sinclair.

“There’s no mention here who will be covering the costs of 24/7 security services,” Sinclair said.

Sinclair said she could support BC Housing funding the requirement, but had concerns about having social agencies suddenly “having to cough up money” for the service.

Mayor Ken Christian said he was concerned about future outcomes from the motion.

“The effect of this, if it passes, could be very well to suppress further supportive housing in Kamloops because of a requirement that would be inconsistent with other communities,” Christian said.

However, Sarai referenced the number of supportive housing units along West Victoria Street, and the history of security incidents that have occurred in the area.

“If we see issues coming forward in new housing units, or even ones that are operational now, because for some reason the housing spectrum changes and all of a sudden we have neighbourhood issues, we should be able to go to them and say, we’re not going to get bylaws here every day and stand guard,” Sarai said.

"It’s up to you to provide security for the neighbouring businesses and houses, because the problem is coming from your housing unit.”

This motion divided council, but was ultimately carried, with Singh, Sinclair and Christian opposed.

Sarai put forward three other recommendations related to housing, with the majority of council voting in favour of all motions.

A request will be sent out to Attorney General and Minister for Housing David Eby, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, to review the outcomes of the current supportive housing projects in Kamloops, the impact on the surrounding community, and the outcomes on those accessing the housing.

A motion also passed that will ensure a meeting is set up between senior staff at the city, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health and Addictions.

The parties will discuss the need for an increase in detox beds in Kamloops, and the establishment of a sobering centre with treatment options for addictions and mental health issues.

Finally, a memorandum of understanding will be developed between the city and BC Housing that will require all current and future housing projects to sign a good neighbour impact agreement with the city, along with agreements to provide wrap-around support services and accessible washroom facilities.

Coun. Mike O’Reilly said he would be supporting this motion.

“Ten years ago, we were so happy to get some rooms built, and that’s what we required,” he said.

“This is saying we’d still like the units, but we’ve learned from the past, that they do create some potential conflicts or issues, that this isn’t carte blanche, that we’ll take any units you build within town.”