The City of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 plan to help the homeless will be a combined strategy that brings together current service providers under an integrated plan that will share information and policies.
Speaking to members of several local service agencies, including Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Gospel Mission, the city's social development manager Sue Wheeler put forth a 16-month plan that has set a course to change the way the homeless are dealt with in Kelowna.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e stepping back and looking at the whole system and how it functions together to create a coordinated and integrated approach through multi-sector commitments and partnerships to address the needs of people who are experiencing housing issues,香蕉视频直播� said Wheeler.
In developing the plan Wheeler met with those who have been on the streets working for the homeless as well as those that have been homeless, gathering information. That allowed her to determine key local gaps and the challenges, she said.
She identified Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 strengths in dealing with certain parts of the homeless situation, but said having every service provider working together with a combined strategy has been proven to work in other cities also dealing with the issue.
香蕉视频直播淵ou take the common goals and what we learn in the research and start to determine where the gaps are and where the best opportunity is to really target and change the functionality of the system,香蕉视频直播� she said.
She pointed to integrated plans that have had success elsewhere that could be adopted in Kelowna, including:
- The development of a local systems map for people who transition through different services to help navigate the system, featuring coordination across all sectors.
- Having a discharge committee to ensure people aren香蕉视频直播檛 discharged from one service out into the community, only to fall back into homelessness.
香蕉视频直播淜elowna benefits from a multitude of strengths,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 lots of examples of co-ordination and groups working together and there is a growing willingness to work together in a new and collaborative way.香蕉视频直播�
Wheeler added that the plan is based on what has worked in other cities and provinces. In Alberta, she said there are seven cities working together and sharing data. In Calgary, 35 service-providers work together and have formed a housing foundation that controls over 2,000 supported beds.
In introducing the presentation Mayor Colin Basran said it was important to have the presentation in a meeting where members of the public could hear what the plans are moving forward.
香蕉视频直播淲e wanted to let the community know there is a lot more going on than meets the eye and that council is committed to dealing with this,香蕉视频直播� he said, while not directly addressing criticism the city faced with its sidewalk bylaw.
Wheeler香蕉视频直播檚 report did single-out Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 bylaw officers, but for the good work they are doing. She said many times they have connected a homeless person with a service provider when otherwise they were not getting help.
It香蕉视频直播檚 not the first time Kelowna has had a plan to deal with the homeless, , numbered at least 233 homeless on any given night. In 2009 the council of the day approved a homeless plan that also looked at the current trends in dealing with the situation.
香蕉视频直播淭here was a plan developed by a collaboration of community partners,香蕉视频直播� said Wheeler. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not sure why it didn香蕉视频直播檛 progress. In my experience sometimes plans don香蕉视频直播檛 progress if they don香蕉视频直播檛 have clear governance structures that are accountable and partnership commitments.香蕉视频直播�
Wheeler was questioned by council on the timing of the framework of the plan taking 16 months and pointed to several initiatives already underway. But she said it香蕉视频直播檚 important that the complex plan is well-researched.
香蕉视频直播淚t will take approximately 16 months in total but the engagement process is as important as the outcome because of the structures as to how the complex system will work together will be evolving,香蕉视频直播� she said.
