Volunteers at Old Friends Thrift and Vintage in Kamloops from left to right: Raffelina Johnson, owner Caroline King, Katharine Rodman.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

Not only are seniors in B.C. the fastest growing cohort, the risk of homelessness among low-income seniors is reaching crisis proportions, the effect of which can be seen in communities every day. 

Poverty is having mental, physical and emotional consequences for many seniors and a woman in Kamloops, with the help of her senior volunteers, is working to fill the gaps.

“It’s shocking how poorly seniors are supported,” said Kamloops seniors advocate Caroline King. “I don’t like when people complain because there are ways to take some action and find something to make the community better.”

Earlier this month, King opened Old Friends Thrift and Vintage on the city’s north shore, but it is much more than a thrift shop. Run by seniors, all proceeds of the sales — after rent is paid — go to assist low-income seniors to meet food and transportation needs, and to provide a gathering place to curb the isolation caused by poverty.

The small, brightly lit thrift store has a friendly, welcoming ambiance with customers chatting and music playing quietly in the background.

“Seniors volunteer here or come by for a coffee or to play games at a table in the corner where we bring them a cup of coffee and cookie,” King said. “Some of them are lonely and are falling through the cracks without family support.”

Owner at Old Friends Vintage & Thrift Caroline King (left) stands beside senior volunteers Katharine Johnson and Raffelina Johnson.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

The initiative is mostly targeted toward seniors who don’t have the mobility or the money to leave their low-income rentals. King said not every senior is physically able to access the Food Bank, and not all of them can afford bus fare.

“You’re late 70s and you’re charged two dollars to get to the food bank and two to get home. You get off at Tranquille bus stop and have to walk two blocks which is on an incline. You stand in line and only if you can get there early enough will you get protein. The food bank is amazing but they can’t serve that small group of people that fall into that category.” 

King has lived in Kamloops for decades and spent 16 years in the past volunteering at St. Vincent De Paul Society in town where she built relationships with seniors. She said poverty in the senior population is worse than ever, with a rapid increase in seniors in need in the past 3 years.

“It’s shocking, I have seniors that haven’t eaten meat in months, it’s hard to see,” she said. “I'm supporting seniors that have to pick and choose what medications they’re going to take based on what activity they are going to.”

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King’s volunteer team serves 21 low-income seniors every month, delivering hampers with quality food, meat, cheese, milk, eggs, veggies and fruit. Most of the recipients are disabled from geriatric issues, and some are living in unsanitary conditions with unstable housing.

Vintage and second hand clothing are for sale for low prices at Old Friends Vintage & Thrift shop at 40 789 Fortune Drive in Kamloops.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

A senior woman on the recipient list is paying $1,250 per month for a rental after being evicted due to renovations, also known as a 'renoviction'.

“They moved her into a different unit while they were doing upgrades,” King said. “Then they moved her back into the first one and put the rent up by $300 because of the upgrades, now what is she going to do? It’s legal and it’s happening everywhere.”

One senior who just signed on with King is paying to live in a garage with no windows, fridge or bathroom. She has complex health issues, poor hygiene from not showering, skin breakdown and diabetes, and doesn’t have a family doctor.

“She had a home until three months ago but she couldn’t afford to keep it, and sadly she was in a tent last month,” King said. “We’ll be providing her with eggs because she has a hot plate she uses, there isn’t a lot else we can give because the food will go bad.”

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One man on the recipient list is in low-income housing and his rent is $1,000.

“How much from that pension covers monthly costs?” she said. “He doesn’t have a television, he doesn’t have internet or a phone. He still has to get medications and food and then it’s gone. He’s 84 years old, how often can he navigate that path to the food bank?

“There are agencies doing great things but you still have to get there which is why delivering is so important.”

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The hampers are small and healthy, partially stocked with food from different local farmers. King supports seniors who are really thin and will put a can of Guinness in their hampers.

“It’s an extra food source and a little treat to help perk them up and boost their health. It’s just little things like that, that make a difference. We pay attention to how our seniors are doing and if they’re lonely, we’ll stop by with flowers or a card.”

According to a 2023 report by the National Institute of Aging, social isolation and loneliness in seniors is on the rise across the country, increasing health risks comparable to smoking and obesity. Lonely and isolated seniors are more at risk for dementia, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality to name a few.

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Katharine Rodman is a senior volunteering at the shop where she enjoys connecting with her community. She moved to Kamloops from the US just over a decade ago after her husband died.

“Because I’d been living in the states it took years to qualify for an old age pension, and it isn’t liveable,” she said. “There may be other income some of us qualify for but the government isn’t going to tell us, we can share information about things like that here, and where to find more affordable groceries and discounts.”

Rodman survived a stroke seven weeks ago and doesn’t have a family doctor. She is careful what she buys and parcels out meals to get by. She doesn’t have extra income for shopping or going out for meals with friends.

Kamloops senior resident Lee Kenny stopped by to see the new shop. He said his low pension has him scrimping every day to get by. His main mode of transportation is a bicycle, he searches the grocery stores for discounted items and laughed when iNFOnews.ca asked him when he last went out for lunch.

“For a sixteen-dollar burger? I can’t even remember, that isn’t in the budget,” he said. “This isn’t a fun way to live.” 

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Senior poverty and the problem of piddly pensions that barely cover the cost of rent has been in the public eye recently with the Seniors Tin Cup Movement pushing for federal pension reform.

An aging population and rising costs of living along with inadequate incomes for seniors is creating a housing crisis with the average senior spending 78% of their income on rent, according to a report by United Way BC published in November.

Many seniors are struggling to survive on a combined income from their pension, old age security benefits and guaranteed income supplement that amounts to roughly $18,000 per year, far below the poverty line, and an increasing number of them are on the verge of homelessness for the first time in their lives.

READ MORE: Kamloops seniors advocate seeing more lonely, socially isolated seniors

Celeste Fummerton is the Tin Cup representative for Kamloops. She and reps from eight other BC communities are raising awareness and collecting signatures on a petition directed at the federal government. 

Two rallies were held in the Thompson-Okanagan twice this year and a third one is being organized for September. 

“Senior problems are no longer unheard of,” she said. “The awareness has at least tripled since we started. We had city councillors and MLAs show up to the last rally which tells me politicians are becoming aware of the eight million seniors in Canada and what a powerhouse we can be.

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Old Friends Vintage & Thrift at 40 789 Fortune Drive is open Tuesday to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations of clothing and accessories is accepted through pickups only, there is no drop-off available. Call Caroline King at 250-318-7312 if you wish to donate.

“The thrift shop was named to highlight the idea that everyone of all ages can be like old friends who work together to build a stronger community.”

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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