Municipalities do not build or operate housing. A municipal government's role is to set zoning and development rules, while provincial and federal governments control funding, programs, and major housing policy. Municipalities can support housing—but they can’t solve affordability alone.

The City can preserve, acquire, sell, and provide land for housing, and develop partnerships and incentives to support housing development.

In 2023, Kamloops City Council approved the incorporation of the Kamloops Community Land Trust Foundation, a key step in helping to fill housing gap. A community land trust can prioritize the long-term housing needs of the community and seek proposals to develop land to meet a specific need. With land costs and large profits removed from the development cost, the result is low-cost, attainable market housing.

The City works closely with BC Housing and supports and assists with public communications and community engagement efforts related to social and affordable housing in Kamloops.

Council is responding proactively. In November 2024, they approved a Housing Needs Report update and committed to provincial Housing Supply Act targets—requiring approximately 847 new units annually over five years, covering housing affordability and special needs.

Well‑designed and well‑managed affordable housing blends into neighbourhoods and does not reduce surrounding property values. In many cases, new housing replaces under‑utilized or vacant land and improves neighbourhood stability.

Shelters for an emergency response, intended for short‑term. Social and supportive housing are long‑term homes where residents pay rent and work toward stability.

Supportive housing is designed to reduce visible street disorder by providing people with stable housing and access to services. Research and local experience show that housing people with supports is more effective for community safety than leaving people unhoused.

Local and provincial data consistently show that the rise in homelessness in Kamloops is driven primarily by local residents losing housing, not by people moving here for services or being sent from other communities. Many people have lost housing due to rising costs, limited rental availability, health challenges, or significant life events. Point‑in‑Time Count data has repeatedly shown that most people experiencing homelessness have lived in Kamloops for five years or more.

There is no evidence that other communities are systematically giving unhoused people bus tickets to come to Kamloops. Provincial data related to people without a fixed address shows that Kamloops has not experienced a significant influx of people from other communities. In Point‑in‑Time survey data, the most common reason someone reports coming to Kamloops is to be closer to friends or family, not to access services.

People experiencing homelessness, like all residents, have the right to move freely and choose where they live. At the same time, local service providers prioritize people with existing connections to Kamloops when supporting access to housing programs and services.

Temporary overnight sheltering and encampments are a complex issue that may be tied to housing insecurity, mental health, and substance use. The City works within provincial and federal laws to manage encampments while respecting human rights. Staff collaborate with BC Housing and service providers to connect individuals with shelter and support.

Unlike many communities of similar size, our city does not have a large-scale encampment. However, because there are not enough shelter beds to meet local demand, the City is legally required to designate specific areas where individuals experiencing homelessness can shelter overnight.

The majority of individuals counted are experiencing chronic homelessness. In 2024, 86% met the criteria for chronic homelessness, with noticeable increases among Indigenous peoples, women, and seniors.

Very few people choose homelessness. It is usually the result of economic hardship, domestic violence, family conflict, mental health struggles, or sudden life crises, like eviction or health related challenges.

In the 2024 Point in Time count, 48% stated eviction was their most recent reason for losing their housing and 36% stated their most recent housing loss was due to conflict or abuse from a spouse, partner, parent, family or landlord.

Not all people who experience homelessness use substances. People lose housing for many reasons, including the lack of affordable housing, poverty, family breakdown, health issues, and system failures.

At the same time, local and national data consistently show that substance use is disproportionately higher among people who are unhoused—often connected to trauma, mental health challenges, and the stress of surviving without stable housing.

Substance use disorders are complex health conditions, not habits that people can simply stop instantly. Recovery usually takes time, treatment, and support.

• Addiction is a medical condition. Substance use disorders affect brain chemistry and decision-making, making it difficult to stop without treatment or support.

• Recovery takes time. Many people need counselling, medication, or treatment programs, and recovery can include setbacks.

• Life circumstances affect recovery. Trauma, poverty, and unstable housing can make stopping substance use much more difficult.

• Support improves success. Access to stable housing, healthcare, and addiction services significantly increases recovery outcomes.

Many Canadian communities are seeing increases. Rising housing costs, inflation, and limited rental supply have led to increases in homelessness in communities across British Columbia and Canada, not just Kamloops.

Homelessness rates are comparable to similar-sized cities. Data from Point-in-Time (PiT) counts across BC shows that mid-sized cities—including Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Prince George—are all experiencing similar challenges.

Housing affordability is a key driver. Like many communities in BC, Kamloops faces low rental vacancy rates and rising housing costs, which contribute to housing instability