Yacht Club opens Tuesday, ASK Wellness Society says there is an 'acute' need for winter shelters in Kamloops

As frigid temperatures sweep across Kamloops, several shelters and warming stations opened Monday night and saw more than 200 homeless people use these resources.

ASK Wellness Society says there is an “acute need for these resources” based on the number of people who were looking for a warm place to sleep Monday night as temperatures dropped to nearly -10ºC with a -18ºC windchill.

In a news release, the society says that 162 people were in shelters between CMHA and Mustard Seed and an additional 25 were housed in the Stuart Wood winter shelter.

Forty six people stopped in at the two warming stations operated by ASK Wellness on Seymour Street and Tranquille Road.

Interior Community Services also extended the hours of their downtown youth outreach centre.

On Tuesday, the city announced that BC Housing and the Mustard Seed will be offering 19 additional beds at the Kamloops Yacht Club, located at 1140 River Street.

The shelter will be open from 8 pm to 8 am.

“A big thank you to The Mustard Seed for stepping up in this emergency situation to operate this shelter and to the other agencies for supporting this effort,” said Byron McCorkell, the city’s community and protective services director.

As of Monday evening, there are 209 shelter beds available in Kamloops.

This includes 25 at Stuart Wood, 40 at Emerald Centre, 22 at The Mustard Seed, 12 at Harbour House, 50 at Merit Place and 41 at Moira House.

ASK Wellness employees will continue to offer outreach services to the community as the cold temperatures continue this week.

“The commitment of ASK staff coming together to support these efforts highlighted the strong level of the team’s resolve and courage,” explains Andrina Tenisci with ASK Wellness.

“The importance of the social service collaboration was witnessed, as ASK, Out of the Cold, the Loop, and Mustard Seed worked together in bringing people indoors for the evening.”

Donations of new or gently used blankets and winter clothing are still being accepted and can be dropped off at either warming station or at ASK’s Housing Outreach office at 433 Tranquille Road.