KAMLOOPS – The Province, through BC Housing, has purchased the former Lamplighter Motel in Kamloops to ensure people at risk of homelessness in the community continue to have a place to live.
Located at 1901 Trans-Canada Hwy. E., the one-storey building has 31 units, each with its own washroom. The building also has a reception area and an additional two-bedroom manager’s suite.
The former motel has been leased by BC Housing since October 2021 as temporary supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. By purchasing the property, residents will be able to remain in the building. BC Housing will apply for rezoning to transition these spaces into permanent supportive housing. In the meantime, the site will continue to operate as temporary housing.
ASK Wellness Society, which has managed the site since October 2021, will continue to operate the building. The society will have staff on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide residents with support services, including daily meals, life-skills training, vocational supports, and health and wellness services.
“A tapestry of supportive housing in Kamloops will ensure that people have the right supports and environment to improve their lives,” said Bob Hughes, chief executive officer, ASK Wellness Society. “While the Lamplighter program has historically supported individuals during environmental crisis situations, the operating model for this project has developed and grown in order to complement the existing housing models in community. As a transitional supportive housing program, the vision for Lamplighter is to provide culturally appropriate services to those who are prepared to embrace prioritizing their health, employment and educational advancement. We are proud to partner with Open Door Group to create vocational supports for those who have demonstrated a readiness to embrace those priorities.”
The purchase is part of the Province’s permanent housing plan. Budget 2022 commits $264 million over three years to ensure approximately 3,000 people who were temporarily housed during the COVID-19 pandemic do not return to homelessness.
Since 2017, the Province has funded more than 36,000 affordable new homes that have been completed or are underway for people in BC, including more than 750 homes BC.
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