NDP candidate calls out Kamloops for homeless service closures

A Kamloops NDP candidate pointed blame at the City for the impending gap in daytime services for homeless people. It comes on the last day The Loop and The Mustard Seed are expected to keep open their drop-in centres, with the latter closing its doors willingly and the former reaching the end of its lease. The City is putting the final touches on a North Shore "access hub" that could replace some of the gap left by the closures, but it's not expected to open until this winter. "There’s a municipal failure here that is disconcerting and worrisome. It’s intolerable for a city with a population exceeding 100,000 to fail to provide these essential services," Kamloops Centre candidate for BC NDP Kamal Grewal said in a news release. Although it's the City leading the "access hub" project for the moment, the City's aim is for BC Housing — run by the NDP government — to take charge and get involvement from non-profits. Homeless services are largely a provincial matter, but Grewal said it's her "primary concern" the City plays a role when services like The Loop and The Mustard Seed face closures in the middle of summer. “We’ve seen the effect that extreme summer temperatures in Kamloops have had on the general population over the past few years.  You can just imagine how difficult it will be for the unhoused or inadequately housed when there are no drop-in centres to provide basic services such as meals and links to other basic services,” she said. The Mustard Seed opted to close its day space so it could focus on its longer term clients, especially those in abstinence-based programs. The Loop, meanwhile, is being forced to close since the building at 405 Tranquille Road was purchased by local realtor Brendan Shaw. Shaw said he doesn't plan to redevelop the site but instead potentially use it for retail or office space. The Loop's lease under Shaw's ownership was supposed to end in the spring, but it was later extended. July 31 is the final day for the drop-in centre. Operator Glenn Hilke said The Loop will likely refocus its entire effort to its mobile service, delivering food to homeless people around the city. Meanwhile, he is trying to put pressure on city officials to fill the gap left by the drop-in centre closures. He hosted a demonstration in front of Kamloops city hall on July 30 just ahead of a council meeting. Hilke had dinner plates on display with messages he said were written by visitors to The Loop. Among them were messages that read: "I am someone," and "Is this my last supper?" He smashed the plates as he lamented their lost daily meals at each drop-in centre. Inside, he interrupted the council meeting just as it began. "I'll be brief: no drop-in centres in 48 hours in Kamloops. That means no meals," he said before councillors began to shout him down. Hilke was escorted out by a bylaw officer and Kamloops RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley, who was in chambers for a presentation on crime statistics. No one from council attended Hilke's demonstration before the meeting except for Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, who came out briefly, but made no promises that he would push to replace the loss of the services. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .