A social housing project for homeless young adults, to be named in honour of the late Katherine McParland, has been given a greenlight by city council.

Council has unanimously approved a development variance permit for “Katherine’s Place,” which will have 39 units of housing on the North Shore. It will be for adults between 19 and 25 years old.

A Way Home Kamloops executive director Tangie Genshorek says McParland put the wheels in motion for this project before her sudden passing last December, who was the founder of the society.

“A lot of people knew Katherine… She was working on this project for years to create a really special home for youth in Kamloops, so they could access supports and have a lot of different connections to the community all in one place. So we’re really excited to be able to make Katherine’s dream a reality,” Genshorek says.

“We’re also really fortunate to partner with the landowner, Missagh Manshadi, and the developer there. He was a friend of Katherine’s, he knew her well, and he identifies with the cause. That location on Tranquille is really ideally because its so close to the transit exchange which is a key hub for young people. Most of them don’t drive at all.”

The housing will likely open in 2023, and a ground-breaking ceremony will take place once construction is finished.

It will build on housing that already exists for homeless youth in the community that is operated by A Way Home Kamloops. The society opened “Safe Suites” in 2019, at a North Shore home, which has room for six youth and has around-the-clock supports.