There were emotional appeals to and among West Kelowna council to approve a pilot hygiene centre downtown for people experiencing homelessness.
It's proposed for property owned by the Central Okanagan Food Bank at 2545 Churchill Road.
The location was an issue for several councillors during Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 (June 11) meeting. It香蕉视频直播檚 just a few hundred metres from two schools, and Julia香蕉视频直播檚 Junction playground.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e putting it in such close proximity to our most vulnerable children in the community,香蕉视频直播� Coun. Garrett Millsap pointed out. 香蕉视频直播淲e already have problems in that park.香蕉视频直播�
Those problems according to city staff include homeless individuals using the spray park to shower and frequenting the washrooms.
The Westside Resource Hygiene Centre planned for the Churchill Road property will provide those services along with hot meals, laundry facilities, and other supports.
Community and Social Development Coordinator Melissa Hunt-Anderson told council there are approximately 75 unhoused people in West Kelowna.
She noted that the Bartley Road temporary shelter was recently approved for another three-year term, but there is still no permanent solution.
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Hunt-Anderson added other supports are dwindling, including the closure of the city's Rapid Rehousing Program, and a reduction in services by non-profit KANDU. The organization has served vulnerable people in the community for years.
Council also heard that the unhoused population will likely grow, including migration across the bridge. Bylaw Community Safety Officer, Danica Floto, said approximately 250 to 275 people are experiencing homelessness in Kelowna.
香蕉视频直播淲hen you get that many people香蕉视频直播e香蕉视频直播檙e naturally going to see people come over to the Westside to get away from things in Kelowna.香蕉视频直播�
Others come from out of province or are locals, who have suffered hardship or unfortunate circumstances.
香蕉视频直播淲here do we tell folks to go?香蕉视频直播� Floto asked council 香蕉视频直播淚f we don香蕉视频直播檛 have a place to send them during the day to access these resources it will only push them into residential areas.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Rick de Jong supported the pilot but felt Churchill Road was the wrong location. He also pointed a finger at senior government.
香蕉视频直播淭his more of a provincial mandate than a municipal one. We don香蕉视频直播檛 have the resources to cope with a lot of this. Do I think it香蕉视频直播檚 a good pilot project and we need to continue moving forward香蕉视频直播es.香蕉视频直播�
Hunt-Anderson pointed out the city may not find the 香蕉视频直播渂est place香蕉视频直播� to locate the hygiene centre.
香蕉视频直播淚n the meantime, there香蕉视频直播檚 going to be maybe upwards of 100 people without a shower or place to go to the bathroom losing dignity, spiraling downward, and causing more community safety issues.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Tasha Da Silva agreed.
香蕉视频直播淭o approach this with humanity and empathy. I feel it香蕉视频直播檚 my responsibility as a councillor to give people their humanity when we have that chance.香蕉视频直播�
The centre would be supported by Kelowna Gospel Mission, Canadian Mental Health Association, Turning Points, Central Okanagan Food Bank, Salvation Army Partners in Resources, Interior Health, KANDU, and Westbank First Nation.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 good to see partners come to the table and bring expertise,香蕉视频直播� Coun. Jason Friesen said. 香蕉视频直播淭his an opportunity that I feel provides the best hope for those who are struggling.香蕉视频直播�
While understanding the need, Coun. Carol Zanon said the city is not equipped for an influx of homeless individuals.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 calling on the province to please hear our need and help us and other communities.香蕉视频直播�
Coun. Stephen Johnston pointed out that council has been asking for help from the province for a long time.
香蕉视频直播淲e are faced with picking up where the province has failed to live up to its mandate in many ways. We have a responsibility to not only look out for those experiencing homelessness, but also children, our seniors, our teens.香蕉视频直播�
After defeated votes to defer a decision and to provide the pilot, council directed staff to prepare a report outlining the required resources to mitigate the impacts of the hygiene centre on the neighbourhood. It will come back to council in the next one or two meetings.
Mayor Gord Milsom did not attend the June 11 meeting.
