While some shopkeepers are concerned about crime in Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 downtown, one store owner says she香蕉视频直播檚 found little to complain about.

Linda Smith has owned and operated The Water Garden Boutique on Ellis Street for the last 20 years. During that time period, she香蕉视频直播檚 had very little problems with crime and wants to address the fear around the homeless in the downtown area.

香蕉视频直播淭he area around us has grown up in such an amazing way; we have restaurants, we have fun bars, we have a lot more shopping and along with that there has definitely been a (change). There are more homeless people, and I think there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of fear that香蕉视频直播檚 just unfounded,香蕉视频直播� Smith said.

Smith said that she香蕉视频直播檚 had little issues with the city香蕉视频直播檚 homeless population and pointed out that there have been times where she香蕉视频直播檚 been extended a helping hand.

RELATED: West Kelowna homeless out in the cold after shelter runs at max capacity

香蕉视频直播淚 was out at the dumpster and I had my hands full and it was near an alley and I香蕉视频直播檓 not afraid to go out there at all, and the guy said 香蕉视频直播榣et me help you with that,香蕉视频直播� and opened the lid for me,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e just people and there香蕉视频直播檚 so much fear and I don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 necessarily appropriate.香蕉视频直播�

Smith香蕉视频直播檚 shop was broken into eight years ago, but she香蕉视频直播檚 had little issues otherwise.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e never been threatened, my staff and I work alone here 90 per cent of the time and (we香蕉视频直播檝e been) fine,香蕉视频直播� she said.

She香蕉视频直播檚 in favour of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 supportive housing project.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of people that need housing, and the first thing we can do to help them is put a roof over their head,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 mean it香蕉视频直播檚 where we香蕉视频直播檙e at in our society, we can香蕉视频直播檛 just push it under the rug and say 香蕉视频直播檔ot in my backyard.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

香蕉视频直播淔or people to be afraid to come to downtown is going to make matters worse.香蕉视频直播�

Over the past seven months, the city has been collaborating with BC Housing and non-profits in the community to house Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 homeless as part of its Journey Home Housing initiative.

Recently, a new supportive housing project, Heath House, opened on Harvey Avenue North near Leathhead Road which houses 50 formerly homeless people. It is operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

READ MORE: Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 newest supportive housing project opens

Hearthstone, another housing project located on Commerce Avenue which opened in October, and Heath House are both BC Housing projects.

Another housing initiative, approved by council in January for Agassiz Road, was met with controversy as some residents in the area were concerned about drug use. The project will provide 52 units for homeless people.

In July, Vancouver Career College cut its courses and moved from its location on Pandosy Avenue in January, citing the homeless shelter across the street was causing concern for its students香蕉视频直播� safety.

However, Lance Kayfish, director of community safety with the City of Kelowna, said work needs to be done to address the stigma around homelessness.

Housing first projects have an advantage over shelters, as they allow individuals to have their own space, which gives them a sense of security and allows them to take pride in something, he said.

It香蕉视频直播檚 often difficult for people to better themselves in a shelter setting when they香蕉视频直播檙e concerned about day-to-day activities while battling mental health issues, personal issues or other challenges, Kayfish said.

香蕉视频直播淗ow does a person who is dealing with opioid addiction that wants to overcome that, how do they start to rise to that challenge when they don香蕉视频直播檛 even know when they want to brush their teeth in the morning?香蕉视频直播� he said.

In November, a report was released by retired RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon, who was asked to look at ways the city could address downtown crime.

The report outlined the Journey Home Housing strategy, as well as other 香蕉视频直播渜uick fixes香蕉视频直播� such as more sidewalk cleaning, more garage bins downtown, portable toilets and reviewing the city香蕉视频直播檚 needle pick-up program.

Repeating a line he used in the past, the former 40-year police officer said the city will not 香蕉视频直播渁rrest its way out of the problem.香蕉视频直播�

Kayfish said with the number of shelter beds concentrated in the downtown core, there have been unintended consequences.

RELATED: Nearly 8,000 homeless in B.C., first province-wide count reveals

He said they also haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen a spike in crime around the Commerce Avenue housing complex, which has 46 units.

The aim of the Journey Home initiative is to have supportive housing units throughout the city, Kayfish said.

香蕉视频直播淭hings aren香蕉视频直播檛 perfect, part of the work that needs to be done is building understanding and addressing stigma because somebody is homeless and looks like they香蕉视频直播檙e homeless doesn香蕉视频直播檛 mean they香蕉视频直播檙e threatening,香蕉视频直播� he said.

There are a number of contributing factors that lead to homelessness in the city, which he pointed out is not a Kelowna-centric concern.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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