Over the past two years more than 200 people experiencing homelessness have received help weekly at Salmon Arm's Marshlands Shelter.
This number was shared by BC Housing, which owns the 25-bed facility at 341 Fraser Ave. Open year-round, Marshlands opened its doors on Dec. 12, 2023, and is operated by the Shuswap-Revelstoke branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. The facility offers beds and an array of support services.
BC Housing said on average, Marshlands sees approximately 165 to 170 stays per week, with an average of 22 per night, "helping approximately 220 people experiencing homelessness overall."
"As of April 30, 2025, 23 people have successfully moved from the shelter into stable housing…," said BC Housing in an email to the Observer.
"CMHA-SR works closely with community partners who provide services to support the transition to more stable lives and permanent housing. These supports include mental and public health, access to substance use clinicians, and assistance with navigating other social programs, such as housing or financial aid."
BC Housing worked with the City of Salmon Arm to open the shelter when the Salvation Army closed its former Lighthouse Shelter in May 2022. The city collaborated with BC Housing to open a temporary shelter space at the Downtown Activity Centre in January 2023. It's closure in April once again left the need for a more permanent shelter option.
"With cold temperatures just a few months away, the City of Salmon Arm worked quickly to identify and rezone public land suitable for a shelter," said BC Housing, which negotiated a 10-year lease – with an option to renew for an additional five years – for the city owned property at 341 and 361 Fraser Ave. Capital and annual operational funding for the shelter is provided by the B.C. government through BC Housing’s Supportive Housing Fund.
"The success of projects like the Marshlands Shelter is the result of strong collaborations…," said BC Housing, adding while shelters can provide immediate help to those experiencing homelessness, they are not a long-term solution. "Our goal remains to connect people with permanent housing that meets their needs and continue to tackle the root causes of homelessness across government to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place."
