Kamloops homelessness doubled in four years

The estimated homeless population in Kamloops doubled over four years, and shelter capacity is far from keeping up.

That according to the most recent count in Kamloops, tallying the number of people living without a permanent home.

On Oct. 15, 2025, the survey accounted for 419 people living either in a shelter, outside or in another person’s house. The majority, 274, were staying in emergency shelters at the time.

The report, which will go to a Feb. 24 Kamloops city council meeting, shows the local homeless population increased more than 300 per cent in since 2014.

Although the so-called point in time counts are always considered an underestimate, it shows a steady increase in the number of people without permanent housing over the past decade.

In 2014, there were an estimated 95 homeless people in Kamloops, more than doubling to 206 by 2021. That tally has continued its upward trend from 313 in 2024 to the latest count of 419 people.

While shelter space has been increasing over those years, it’s outpaced by the number of people on the streets, only increasing from 180 beds in 2021 to 287. At the same time, the number of people actually using those beds has increased from 65% in 2021 to 95% as of October 2025.

The city staff report notes that shelters are only meant to be a temporary option, but there are hundreds of more long-term supportive housing suites in Kamloops and many more in development.

Those sites are meant to connect residents with health care and “life skills development” and with 383 already in Kamloops, BC Housing is developing 203 more, according to the report. That likely includes an upcoming and controversial Fortune Drive project.