City and service providers holding out hope for addition of complex care in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — The 2022 BC Budget outlines plans to open at least 20 additional complex care locations across the province, and Kamloops is hoping to get on that list.

Complex care housing provides residents 24/7 support from nurses, social workers and other health professionals. Many of these residents have a variety of needs and haven’t been able to successfully live in other housing models.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Kamloops is one of several organizations in the city that sees how bad it can get when people with complex conditions aren’t properly supported. CMHA Kamloops Executive Director Alfred Achoba says the new housing model would be a huge benefit to Kamloops.

“The behaviour and the mental health piece should be the first priority and the requirement of going into this housing, and we know that there are folks on the street who already show those symptoms.”

The association is hoping to see complex care housing brought to the city to serve people experiencing multiple traumas.

“We know that there is a growing homelessness crisis in our community and across North America and Canada,” notes Achoba. “When we get unique housing like complex care housing that is built around supports and access to professionals, this is something that I’m looking forward to for Kamloops and we need more of it.”

The city’s mayor, Ken Christian, says Kamloops has many citizens who would likely benefit from the extensive wrap-around supports that complex care can offer.

“They have chronic untreated mental illness. As a result of that, they’re preyed upon by drug dealers and they’re using toxic drugs, being revived by naloxone but they come away from that experience with an acquired brain injury. So these people are carrying a lot of burdens.”

According to the province’s budget details, the expansion is expected to cost a combined $164 million over the next three years — with about $55 million allocated for each of those years.

“There was an announcement with respect to 20 new complex care facilities in British Columbia. I’m confident Kamloops will be on that list,” said Christian. “We have worked hard with the BC Urban Mayors Caucus to put forward the case for major cities in British Columbia that this is part in parcel of what we are seeing on our streets that’s making our citizens uncomfortable.”

In the coming weeks Achoba says CMHA hopes to hear more about which communities will be chosen for complex care sites and whether Kamloops will be included in that announcement.

“I think we need that housing as soon as possible. For so long the community has felt the impact of lack of housing, and appropriate type of housing,” said Achoba.