Kamloops

The overdose prevention site located at the back of 433 Tranquille Rd.

Open from 8:30-4:30 daily (except for statutory holidays) and located at the back of our main office at 433 Tranquille Rd, the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) offers harm reduction supplies (injection and inhalation) and services as well as education to our community. This location serves as a first point of contact for the homeless or anybody who is affected by substance use and does not know where to turn and from this site, we are able to connect people with health and housing services.

Other services offered by OPS include an observation room where people can use (injection only) under the supervision of a trained worker who can intervene if there is an overdose, walk-abouts in the community to clean up harm reduction materials and connect with our service population, distributing Naloxone kits, and a needle pick up hotline.

For needle pick ups or for more information on the Overdose Prevention Site please call Karly at 778-257-1292.

The observation room located within the Overdose Prevention Site

SHOP provides outreach and support services to people in sex work. This is done with a three part approach of Community Development, Outreach, and Programming. In SHOP we are rooted in harm reduction services and social justice practices. Our client centred approach ensures people are heard, valued, and supported.
The SHOP office is located at 433 Tranquille Rd and anybody looking to contact the program or get more information can e-mail shop@askwellness.ca. To contact the program by phone, call Jill at 250-571-4370 or Melissa at 250-320-1667.

Watch out for this decal on our Outreach Workers vehicles if you ever need help or have questions.

Located at 433 Tranquille Rd, SHOP is a safe space for anybody who needs it.

Our main office at 433 Tranquille Rd

Located within the main Kamloops office at 433 Tranquille Rd, the Housing Outreach Team is here to work with community members who need support to maintain or find safe and secure housing. Through funding provided by BC Housing and local fundraising efforts, our Housing Outreach Workers can provide damage deposit assistance, funding for emergency repairs, funding for security deposits, and rent subsidies. This financial support is not intended to be ongoing, but rather for situations that leave a family or individual in a position that potentially could make them homeless, lose access to food, and/or negatively impact their health. We also work clients to develop life skills such as budgeting, basic cleanliness, and communication skills to ensure they have the best chance to succeed in maintaining their housing.

For those who are not able to access the residential tenancy market due to mental health, addiction, or other factors, the Housing Outreach Team serves as a first point of contact for those who need Supportive or Transitional Housing (see more on these forms of housing below).

The Housing Outreach Team is welcoming drop-in appointments to complete an intake and have a worker assigned to you. These are available at the following times:

Monday: 1:00 - 3:30
Tuesday: 9:00 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 3:30
Wednesday: 1:00 - 3:30
Thursday: 9:00 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 3:30
Friday: 9:00 - 11:30 and 1:00 - 3:30

Not sure whether the Housing Outreach Team can help you? Click here to message a member of the team with any of your housing related questions.

The Supportive housing facilities operated by the ASK Wellness Society provide vulnerable members of our community experiencing mental health and substance use issues with safe and affordable housing. These programs also benefit the community itself by decreasing the need for by-law to address issues involving these individuals when they do not have safe and affordable housing.

All Supportive housing programs provide client-focused support on problem solving, safety, documentation such as identification, harm reduction, health navigation, and overall life skills. Clients who choose to can participate in wellness planning with a focus on their health, welfare, and safety.

In order to be eligible for Supportive Housing in Kamloops you are required to take part in the Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT) to determine which housing option is the best fit. To have one completed or for more information you can call our main office at 250-376-7558 EXT 0. 

The supportive housing units currently do not have any vacancies and there is a tremendous amount of demand amongst individuals who are long term residents of the Kamloops community. Due to the current high demand, it is not recommended to relocate to Kamloops with the expectation that affordable and supportive housing is available.

All Supportive Housing facilities have staffing 24 hours per day.

All Supportive Housing is funded by BC Housing.

The Transitional Housing Facilities operated by the ASK Wellness Society are designed for clients who have reached a level of stability to where they are preparing for a transition out of housing with supports.

These programs provide client-focused support on problem solving, safety, documentation such as identification, harm reduction, health navigation, and overall life skills. Clients who choose to can participate in wellness planning with a focus on their health, welfare, and safety.
All Transitional Housing programs are staffed during regular business hours.

For information on how to apply for Transitional Housing, contact the Housing Outreach Team at 250-376-7558 EXT 0.

The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program in partnership with Interior Health provides wrap around services for individuals with a Primary Access 1 mental health diagnosis with the goal of helping them stabilize, thus reducing their frequency in the ER and jails. This program has been successful in various communities throughout BC and became operational in Kamloops in the spring of 2015. The Kamloops ACT team has multi-disciplinary dedicated staff including a psychiatrist, occupational therapist, nurses, life skills workers, administrative coordinator and housing supports. Each ACT participant has a program tailored to their specific needs but all include daily check-ins with the various support workers. Funded by Interior Health.

We have a team of qualified staff to help clients improve their health. Whether it be to help manage medications or finding a doctor or drive to Kelowna/Vancouver for a specialist appointment, we can help and provide hope. Through this service, we create a common purpose of building capacity to have positive impact on the quality of life of individuals living with complex health needs. We also provide needle exchange and harm reduction supplies at all of our locations and housing facilities. This program is funded by Interior Health.

The ASK Wellness Society Health Navigation Team has a health educator who provides medical advocacy, health assistance, connection to treatment, education about treatment and disorders, transportation to medical appointments, and referrals to services we are unable to provide. This is the only HIV/Hep C community-based program in Kamloops and has a focus on reducing stigma and providing education.

ASK Wellness recognizes the lack of options available for 2SLGBTQ+ people throughout ASK programs. With the health navigation program, the health educator will now offer specified assistance, education, and resources to those who are transitioning, questioning their gender identity and/or sexual orientation, and/or are in the coming out process. Services also include information and assistance with finding access to medical and social resources, sexual health education, and emotional support.

In partnership with Interior Health, we provide supports and housing to those individuals who have successfully gone through detox and wish further assistance to become contributing community members. Through 24hour supports, wellness planning and group meetings, many have seen success. This program always has several people on a wait list.  This program is funded by Interior Health.

Provides supports and housing to those individuals who are struggling with mental health issues and wish further assistance to become contributing community members. Through 24hour supports, wellness planning and group meetings, many have seen success.  This program is funded by Interior Health.

Through a contract with Community Living BC (CLBC), a provincial crown agency, we assist by delivering supports and services to adults with developmental disabilities and those struggling with mental illness to create communities where people have more choices about how they live, work and contribute. This program is funded by Community Living BC.

The TiOAT office located at 433 Tranquille Rd

Workers strip the mattresses on Mission Flats Rd.

Mattresses from the Kamloops landfill are picked up by the Mattress Recycling Team and brought to the warehouse.