The Mustard Seed commits to operating Yacht Club shelter for remainder of the winter

KAMLOOPS — After initially agreeing to operate one of Kamloops’ two temporary winter shelters for a week, The Mustard Seed now says it will operate the shelter for the rest of the winter.

In a news release, the organization notes it will have four full-time staff operate the Yacht Club shelter on River Street until March 2023. A security guard will also be on site during operation, provided by the City of Kamloops.

Along with the former Stuart Wood Elementary School, the Yacht Club is being leased by B.C. Housing as a temporary winter shelter and is open nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Capacity at the Yacht Club is 19 beds.

The Mustard Seed’s Director of Operations Nyasha Manyanye says it’s hoped the shelter will operate on an expanded basis in the near future.

“We have confirmed with BC Housing that a budget is in place, to continue the operation of the overnight shelter in the Yacht Club for the balance of the winter months,” said Manyanye in the release. “We are hopeful that we can source the staff and resources needed to be able to open this up to serve our community on a 24/7 basis, but that may still be weeks away.”

The Stuart Wood shelter is being operated by Out of the Cold. B.C. Housing and the City of Kamloops were left scrambling in late October when the Canadian Mental Health Association opted out of running the temporary winter shelters, just days before they were set to open.