Kamloops - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together on housing

BC Housing and the City of Kamloops have signed a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize our continued commitment to working collaboratively on the planning, development and operation of future development of shelters, supportive housing, and affordable housing projects in Kamloops.

BC Housing commits to:

• Clear and open communication about planned projects when possible.
• Agree to provide letters of intent to Kamloops City Council when proposing new projects clearly communicating project purposes.
• Supporting housing operators to engage, be responsive to, and build relationships with residents and business owners to address concerns related to shelter or housing operations.
• Working within the Official Community Plan whenever possible.

The City of Kamloops commits to:

• Completing a land use analysis in 2022 to identify sites for use as shelters.
• Financial support for BC Housing projects through tax exemptions, waiving of development cost charges, or by making donations from the City’s Affordable Housing Reserve when possible.
• Working with BC Housing to identify potential sites for future shelter and housing projects. This commitment includes liaising with private property owners or government agencies to lease or license sites for this use.
• Supporting BC Housing to navigate the municipal approvals process for projects. This will be done through coordinating city departments and divisions to help the submissions move smoothly through the approvals process.