Kamloops - Notre Dame Drive

An illustration of a shelter building.


Merit Place is a 50-bed temporary shelter located at 725 Notre Dame Drive (the former Greyhound Bus Depot). At Merit Place, guests access safe, warm, semi-private places to sleep and a range of support services, including:

  • On-site 24/7 Staff Support
  • Healthy Meals
  • Laundry and Shower Facilities
  • Storage for belongings
  • Cultural Supports
  • Life Skill Development
  • Case Management and Health Care Referrals

Due to the continuing need for shelter in the community, BC Housing has extended our lease for 725 Notre Dame Drive until March 31, 2026. This will allow Merit Place to continue providing critically needed shelter and supports for people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops for another year as we work to bring more permanent shelter options and affordable housing to the community.

The need in Kamloops

There is an urgent need for shelter in Kamloops. A 2023 Point in Time Count Report identified at least 312 people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops. The actual number is likely higher, as the count does not include people who are in hospital, couch surfing or living in vehicles and may also need shelter. After a person can access a warm bed, washrooms and meals, they are in a much better position to improve their housing situation and well-being.

People staying in shelters can include seniors, people with disabilities, people who have experienced trauma or poverty, people with health concerns and anyone struggling with the high cost of housing. Guests are adults (19+) of all genders.

The Operator: CMHA Kamloops

Canadian Mental Health Association Kamloops (CMHA) has operated Merit Place since it opened in 2022. CMHA Kamloops’ goal is to empower clients on their journey to reintegration, wellness and independence. CMHA Kamloops is an experienced, non-profit operator that has been working with the most vulnerable in the community for over 100 years. Learn more about CMHA Kamloops by visiting kamloops.cmha.bc.ca.

From CMHA Kamloops:

Our goal at Merit Place is to empower our clients on their journey to reintegration, wellness, and independence. Active participation in their wellness plan is strongly encouraged, and our multidisciplinary team collaborates closely with clients and their care teams to tailor individualized care plans based on specific needs and situations.

Community Engagement

On November 10, 2021, we delivered a letter to area neighbours to share our plans to repurpose the former Greyhound Bus Depot building into a 24/7 shelter at 725 Notre Dame Drive. This letter also invited interested neighbours to a virtual community information session to learn more about the shelter project and ask questions.

On December 15, 2021, we hosted a virtual community information session and gathered community feedback to help inform our creation of this shelter. View the session presentation and the Key Themes report. We thank all participants for their contributions to the discussion.

On April 12, 2023, we delivered a letter to area neighbours to notify them of a 2-year lease extension and to gather feedback. This extension allowed the shelter to operate until April 2025. Taking what we heard from community members, BC Housing added new fencing and security measures to the shelter to better promote the safety and well-being of shelter guests and the wider community.

On March 26, 2025, we delivered a letter to area neighbours to share that we’ve extended our lease of the property until March 31, 2026. This letter also included a Who to Call / When to Call info sheet with direct contact information for the shelter as well as other municipal and emergency services.

Questions?

BC Housing and CMHA Kamloops are committed to being good neighbours and keeping lines of communication open. We aim to address any concerns from neighbours quickly and collaboratively.

For questions about CMHA Kamloops, Merit Place and the services offered, please email meritplace.shelter@cmhakamloops.ca.

We also continue to welcome questions at any time by email at communityrelations@bchousing.org.


Merit Place is a 50-bed temporary shelter located at 725 Notre Dame Drive (the former Greyhound Bus Depot). At Merit Place, guests access safe, warm, semi-private places to sleep and a range of support services, including:

  • On-site 24/7 Staff Support
  • Healthy Meals
  • Laundry and Shower Facilities
  • Storage for belongings
  • Cultural Supports
  • Life Skill Development
  • Case Management and Health Care Referrals

Due to the continuing need for shelter in the community, BC Housing has extended our lease for 725 Notre Dame Drive until March 31, 2026. This will allow Merit Place to continue providing critically needed shelter and supports for people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops for another year as we work to bring more permanent shelter options and affordable housing to the community.

The need in Kamloops

There is an urgent need for shelter in Kamloops. A 2023 Point in Time Count Report identified at least 312 people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops. The actual number is likely higher, as the count does not include people who are in hospital, couch surfing or living in vehicles and may also need shelter. After a person can access a warm bed, washrooms and meals, they are in a much better position to improve their housing situation and well-being.

People staying in shelters can include seniors, people with disabilities, people who have experienced trauma or poverty, people with health concerns and anyone struggling with the high cost of housing. Guests are adults (19+) of all genders.

The Operator: CMHA Kamloops

Canadian Mental Health Association Kamloops (CMHA) has operated Merit Place since it opened in 2022. CMHA Kamloops’ goal is to empower clients on their journey to reintegration, wellness and independence. CMHA Kamloops is an experienced, non-profit operator that has been working with the most vulnerable in the community for over 100 years. Learn more about CMHA Kamloops by visiting kamloops.cmha.bc.ca.

From CMHA Kamloops:

Our goal at Merit Place is to empower our clients on their journey to reintegration, wellness, and independence. Active participation in their wellness plan is strongly encouraged, and our multidisciplinary team collaborates closely with clients and their care teams to tailor individualized care plans based on specific needs and situations.

Community Engagement

On November 10, 2021, we delivered a letter to area neighbours to share our plans to repurpose the former Greyhound Bus Depot building into a 24/7 shelter at 725 Notre Dame Drive. This letter also invited interested neighbours to a virtual community information session to learn more about the shelter project and ask questions.

On December 15, 2021, we hosted a virtual community information session and gathered community feedback to help inform our creation of this shelter. View the session presentation and the Key Themes report. We thank all participants for their contributions to the discussion.

On April 12, 2023, we delivered a letter to area neighbours to notify them of a 2-year lease extension and to gather feedback. This extension allowed the shelter to operate until April 2025. Taking what we heard from community members, BC Housing added new fencing and security measures to the shelter to better promote the safety and well-being of shelter guests and the wider community.

On March 26, 2025, we delivered a letter to area neighbours to share that we’ve extended our lease of the property until March 31, 2026. This letter also included a Who to Call / When to Call info sheet with direct contact information for the shelter as well as other municipal and emergency services.

Questions?

BC Housing and CMHA Kamloops are committed to being good neighbours and keeping lines of communication open. We aim to address any concerns from neighbours quickly and collaboratively.

For questions about CMHA Kamloops, Merit Place and the services offered, please email meritplace.shelter@cmhakamloops.ca.

We also continue to welcome questions at any time by email at communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Have a question or comment? Please add below.

Guidelines for constructive and respectful dialogue

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  • Thanks for responding to my earlier question however the specifics were left unanswered. Can you please tell me if you are going to determine and publish baseline property crime data that will then be used as one metric to help measure the success of this project? Thank-you.

    Neill Steed asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you again for your inquiry, Neill. The safety of residents, businesses, staff, and other members of the surrounding community is a priority for BC Housing and our partners. That’s why we’ll be implementing a range of important safety features, including having staff on site 24/7, regular community patrols by our neighbourhood watch team, and an increased presence from the City’s Community Safety Officers. 

    To your question, BC Housing does not collect or publish crime data because they can be difficult to interpret and analyze. Inaccurate interpretation of such data can also lead to harmful stereotypes and marginalization of vulnerable people. People who experience homelessness are as varied as any other neighbour. They may be seniors, people with disabilities, people who have employment but no housing, people who are working through mental health concerns and/or substance use.

    Instead, we measure the success of a shelter by our ability to provide people with a safe and warm place to sleep. For many, this is a life-or-death situation as temperatures are now regularly dropping below freezing overnight. At the same time, we are committed to doing so in a way that provides a safe community both inside and outside the building. 

  • Why was this building selected for this shelter without any surrounding community input FIRST?

    TaraJohnson asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry, Tara. As you may know, Kamloops is in an emergency situation where people are sleeping outside in the cold without anywhere else to go. This is unacceptable and requires immediate action to bring people indoors. This is an emergency situation where we need to move quickly. This site was chosen after extensive discussions with City of Kamloops. The City of Kamloops brought forward this property to BC Housing as an appropriate location for shelter. BC Housing agrees this site is well-suited to the current needs of the Kamloops community. BC Housing has notified neighbours and businesses surrounding this shelter location. They have been provided with information on construction and who to call with concerns or for more information. 

    We know that shelters are not a long-term solution, which is why we have opened 64 new supportive homes in Kamloops since 2017, with another 131 supportive homes underway. We understand that Kamloops has an urgent need for new shelters and housing. That is why we continue to work to provide long and short-term solutions for those experiencing homelessness. We appreciate the City of Kamloops’ willingness continue working with us on adding shelter spaces in the community. It allows us to provide a warm place for people to sleep, to access healthy food and support services.

    Tara, we want to hear from you. CMHA Kamloops, in partnership with BC Housing and the City of Kamloops, is hosting a virtual information session to share information about the shelter and its future operations. You can register here: Community Information Session: December 15, 2021 - 4:00pm-6:00pm 

  • Are they providing additional funding for RCMP to deal with the rise in crime since the last homeless shelters were built? And is this to provide housing for homeless people from other cities or towns?

    David Ferguson asked almost 4 years ago

    Kamloops is in the midst of three crises: a housing crisis, an opioid crisis and a pandemic. This has put significant pressure on everyone, especially those who can't afford a home and may be experiencing other challenges. The City of Kamloops’ 2021 Point-in-Time Count conducted on April 15 and 16, 2021, identified 206 individuals experiencing homelessness in the city. This has grown since 2018 when a total of 201 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness. This shelter will support efforts to keep people, from Kamloops, safe and warm over the coming months. 

    BC Housing does not fund the RCMP but works collaboratively with them, and others like health authorities, to support people in the community who are experiencing homelessness. 

  • What is the annual operational cost? Will there be wraparound services? Is this a damp shelter?

    DMoores asked almost 4 years ago

    The shelter will offer: 

    • daily meals
    • laundry & shower facilities
    • support from staff on their path to wellness
    • connections to community resources and housing options


    Shelter guests may make personal choices regarding their consumption habits. BC Housing follows the widely recognized and proven Housing First model. A harm reduction approach means staff are available to support any residents who are in various phases of substance use. In order to help people who use substances, we need to first give them a safe and secure place to sleep, food to eat, and access to services so that they can move forward with their lives. 

    We are unable to confirm the cost of the facility at this time. The new shelter will be open 24/7, year-round starting in early 2022. We anticipate the shelter closing in Spring 2023. The new shelter, which will be operated by CMHA Kamloops, is named Merit Place Shelter to reflect to the worthiness of all life.

  • Will there be security? There has been a lot of theft associated with the current downtown location. This new shelter is located by an industrial area. An area with lots of tools and other items that may be appealing to people. There is also a huge strip of motels nearby, three of which are notorious for being drug dens and having risen the crime rate in the area. I foresee many issues...

    Kristin Gaddie asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you for contacting BC Housing and sharing your concerns with us, Kristin. BC Housing is committed to being good neighbour. The shelter will be operated by Canadian Mental Health Association Kamloops (CMHA) and the building will have staff onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that shelter guests are supported and that any concerns are addressed in the timely manner. There will also be perimeter fence installed and appropriate outdoor lighting. The safety of shelter guests, staff and the surrounding community is a priority.  CMHA will also sign a Good Neighbour Agreement with the City. 

    If there are concerns with specific individuals coming on property or loitering around the property, we will work with the City Community and Protective Services Division and RCMP around potential solutions.      

    We recognize that you will have questions. CMHA Kamloops, in partnership with BC Housing and the City of Kamloops, will be hosting a virtual information session to share information about the shelter and its future operations. Information for this session will be posted on the Let’s Talk web page https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/kamloops-notre-dame-drive once it is available.

  • What is BC Housing plan in regards to security, extra policing and associated cost. A shelter will result in an increase in nefarious activity in Lower Sahali. The proposed shelter is a prime location, which isn’t currently zoned for the proposed shelter. Maybe selling the property for redevelopment and purchasing a more remote and secure location on the outskirts of the city maybe a cheaper and more socially acceptable option. Fristaden Christiania district outside of Copenhagen could be used as an example of providing services to these folks while maintaining public safety.

    Patrick Michaud asked almost 4 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry and for your suggestions, Patrick. Kamloops is in immediate need of additional shelter options. Temperatures are now regularly dropping below freezing overnight so it is a life-or-death situation. BC Housing has leased the vacant former Greyhound Bus Depot building, located at 725 Notre Same Drive, to provide up to 50 shelter beds for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

    Finding appropriate shelter spaces is difficult and complex. Based on the desire from the community for the Memorial Arena to return to recreational use, the City of Kamloops has given unanimous support to BC Housing for the use of the Greyhound Bus Depot as a shelter. BC Housing agrees this site is well-suited to the current needs of the Kamloops community.