A homeless man and a protestor briefly disrupted a news conference announcing housing for people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna on Thursday (Oct. 12).
Mayor Tom Dyas and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon made the announcement at city hall.
While Kahlon was speaking an agitated man, just a few yards behind the minister, yelled several comments and expletives as bylaw officers blocked his way.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 tired of being pushed around in my hometown, being a homeless guy香蕉视频直播� he screamed.
Kahlon stopped speaking for a few seconds.
After several more comments, the man eventually left, while bylaw officers followed.
Another man held up a sign that read 香蕉视频直播楾ell JayJean Stop Racist香蕉视频直播� and tried to interrupt Khalon several times.
Bylaw officers also kept him away from the minister.
The announcement was that the city and BC Housing will build 120 housing units over the coming months to support people who are unhoused and sheltering in encampments.
香蕉视频直播淲e believe encampments are not safe for communities and they香蕉视频直播檙e not safe for the individuals living in them,香蕉视频直播� Kahlon said.
香蕉视频直播淜elowna says 香蕉视频直播榳e want to work with you to get housing available for people before we move in on encampments.香蕉视频直播� That香蕉视频直播檚 the relationship we signed today.香蕉视频直播�
Kahlon added it香蕉视频直播檚 an example other cities across the province can follow.
香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 take care of people and make sure they have somewhere to go and not just displace them.香蕉视频直播�
The units will be funded through the provincial government香蕉视频直播檚 new Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) program.
They are intended as a temporary housing solution while the city and BC Housing work to identify new permanent supportive housing.
Kelowna is the first location in the Interior to use a tiny-home solution, which features small single-room units (60 square feet) that are quick to build and easy to install.
香蕉视频直播淭he need for shelter and housing solutions in our community has never been greater,香蕉视频直播� Dyas said. 香蕉视频直播淏y the process of making the encampments smaller, we香蕉视频直播檙e making the community safer.
According to bylaw services, there are approximately 150 people living in the encampment along Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Rail Trail.
More information on where the units will be located will be revealed in the next two weeks, but the city has identified a handful of locations.
香蕉视频直播淚nitially the first 120 will be on two, but we are speaking of three locations,香蕉视频直播� Dyas added.
Once built the units will be operated by non-profit groups that will provide support services such as daily meals, 24/7 staffing, access to skills training, and support navigating the housing system.
Individuals moving into these new homes will be assessed and matched with appropriate supports.
Who is eligible to move into the units will be decided by organizations including non-profits, the city, First Nations, health professionals, and others.
香蕉视频直播淲here they sit together and identify individuals and identify what香蕉视频直播檚 the right fit,香蕉视频直播� Kahlon explained. 香蕉视频直播淭hat helps make sure that the people moving in are ready and that it香蕉视频直播檚 a right mix of people in that housing.香蕉视频直播�
The minister added that it is not just individuals with mental health challenges, or addiction issues who are unhoused.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not one solution that will solve this. We have people working full-time jobs who are finding themselves homeless.香蕉视频直播�
Kahlon noted that overall, more housing needs to be built in the province.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e two decades behind and all types of housing are needed at the same time.香蕉视频直播�
Tiny homes have also been installed in Victoria and Duncan, and Kahlon said his ministry will be looking to Kelowna as a pilot program.
香蕉视频直播淭his is a different type of condition. It香蕉视频直播檚 a little bit colder in the winter, a little bit warmer in the summer, and seeing how it works here will be important for us to see how we roll out.香蕉视频直播�
The city and the province are also partnering to implement Homeless Encampment Action Response Teams (HEART).
Its purpose is to respond to encampments and support people sheltering outdoors to move inside.
Following the news conference Kahlon spoke with the protestor who held up the sign.
The man told Kahlon that those closest to the problem (homelessness) have the best solutions and accused the government of 香蕉视频直播榩urposely staying away from the problem.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚f you believe the answers are in communities I would agree with you,香蕉视频直播� Kahlon said. 香蕉视频直播淲e do engage with people who build homes, we engage with not-for-profits who are building homes, they are the ones telling solutions to us.香蕉视频直播�
The man also told Kahlon that he and homeless people are treated badly by authorities in the city.
香蕉视频直播淭hey surround me, they intimidate me, they threaten me. I香蕉视频直播檓 an active member of the community, I香蕉视频直播檓 not a homeless person. I香蕉视频直播檓 just an old man holding a sign and this is the way I get treated in this city.香蕉视频直播�
READ MORE: Kelowna residents get a look at redevelopment concepts for North End
READ MORE: $100k donated West Kelowna Salvation Army to help with wildfire relief efforts
