B.C.’s Minister Responsible for Housing says the City of Kamloops remains a priority for a new complex care housing facility which is meant to house people struggling with mental health and addictions issues.

David Eby, who is also the B.C. Attorney General, made that promise during a presentation to Kamloops City Council this week.

“Kamloops is one of the sites that I have identified for Minister [Sheila] Malcolmson and I know she is very aware of it,” he said. “Our government is committed to expanding a number of complex care sites.”

The government defines complex care housing as a “groundbreaking approach” meant specifically meant for people with overlapping mental health or substance use challenges, trauma, and acquired brain injuries. He told council though that finding healthcare staff for this facility could be a challenge.

“One of the discussions were are having with health authorities is around staffing models and so on for these sites and making sure that when we do staff them, they are not impairing the delivery of other healthcare services,” Eby said.

“We want this to be part of the health care system, especially around serious mental health and addiction issues, and as you know, there are huge strains right now on the health care system related to COVID, burnout and otherwise.”

He also told council that he understands the crisis in Kamloops when it comes to homelessness, housing affordability, and the availability of rental units, along with the challenges posed by mental health and addictions.

“The key to this housing is connections to treatment and specialized care for folks. And I’ve heard some really compelling stories out of Kamloops,” Eby said.

“People really struggling on the streets and police trying to respond and emergency responders and neighbours trying to respond, and we know that supportive housing works for a lot of people, but it sure doesn’t work for everyone. That 15 to 20 per cent of people who struggle in supportive housing are the targets of this particular program.”

At last week’s TNRD meeting, Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian called on the government to build a complex care facility in the City, noting there are about 30 people on the streets who would immediately benefit.

“In and of themselves, they are creating a great deal of chaos both for business and for customers and most importantly, their health needs are not being met by the current housing continuum,” Christian said.

Last week, the provincial government announced four new complex care housing sites – in Abbotsford, Surrey, and Vancouver – which led to Kamloops Councillor Mike O’Reilly questioning communities outside the Lower Mainland were shut out.

“Some health authorities are needing more time to plan and I don’t know because it’s not directly in my ministry what Interior Health is thinking and what projects they are proposing,” Eby said Tuesday.

“So I would encourage you to also reach out to your health authority to understand from them where their various proposals are at around complex care. But rest assured that Kamloops has been identified as a priority at the provincial level.”

There was no timeline revealed as to when this housing facility will be announced or built in Kamloops, but Eby said he was “very hopeful” that it would appear in this year’s provincial budget, which is set to be tabled on Feb. 22.

“Rest assured that Kamloops has been identified as a priority at the provincial level,” Eby said.