University says camp-style housing plan denied by city was safe

Photo: Castanet Staff

Thompson Rivers University says it is “disappointed” that the City of Kamloops turned down its request to erect on an emergency basis temporary student housing that did not meet B.C.’s building codes.

The city sent the university a letter this week outlining why the request had been denied.

TRU sourced camp-style temporary accommodations that were made in Alberta and built to that province’s building codes. The university had asked the city to allow the units to rise despite the code deficiencies.

“We believe we put forward a solution that provides a full commitment to the health and safety of students and addressed a critical need due to a sudden and unforeseen shortage of affordable housing in the city,” the university said in a statement.

“The need for affordable student housing developed in August due to sudden and unforeseen factors and we quickly developed a temporary emergency solution on our campus. … We regret the challenges that a lack of affordable housing spaces for students in Kamloops is creating. We will continue to explore immediate affordable housing options for students.”

Spread over a number of on- and off-campus properties, the university owns 1,366 residence spaces for students — all of which are spoken for.

“The situation experienced today is the result of a number of factors that have strained the city’s affordable housing supply, including the influx of out-of-town workers to support pipeline and other construction activity, wildfire evacuees and the loss of spaces to social housing and future developments,” the statement reads.

In its letter denying the proposal, the city pointed to a number of “life-safety” issues in TRU’s plan — including poor fire safety and shared ventilation.

The city said it would be willing to fast-track any TRU housing proposals provided they meet code.