Part four of a five-part series on the homeless and how the stigma associated with being homeless directly affects the relationships between authorities, public space and themselves.

People who experience homelessness claim they are assaulted and verbally abused by authorities and even pedestrians.

Harold Smoke, a man with lived experience of homelessness, said it happens almost daily from RCMP and City of Kelowna bylaw officers.

香蕉视频直播�(Authorities) literally tease them and say, 香蕉视频直播極h I香蕉视频直播檓 going home to my bed tonight, where are you staying?香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� said Smoke, who is now housed. 香蕉视频直播淗ow do you deal with that?香蕉视频直播�

Kelowna bylaw stated there have been rumours of assaults taking place, but 香蕉视频直播渢here (has been) no documented criminal charges ever laid by the police against one of our bylaw officers for assaulting a homeless person,香蕉视频直播� according to bylaw department manager David Gazely.

Gazely said often bylaw officers are subjected to assault and abuse by people who experience homelessness, citing that officers are often spat at, pushed and had their vehicles damaged.

According to Gazely, officers also have found homemade weapons, bear spray, machetes and axes in shopping carts.

香蕉视频直播淓veryone is different in their tolerance level and how much they can actually take in terms of what their breaking point may be,香蕉视频直播� Gazely said.

香蕉视频直播淚 strongly believe that our officers maintain their composure as best they can under the circumstances and only react in a defensive manner if they have reason to believe they are at risk of personal bodily harm.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Part 1: From homeless to housed: A Kelowna woman香蕉视频直播檚 journey

Kelowna RCMP did not deny or confirm that physical or verbal assaults do occur.

香蕉视频直播淚f someone has concerns about the manner in which they were treated by any officer of the RCMP, there are complaint processes in place through which they can bring forward their concerns,香蕉视频直播� stated Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Jesse O香蕉视频直播橠onaghey.

However, those who claim to have been assaulted and are experiencing homelessness, often do not bother trying the formal process.

香蕉视频直播淲ho are they going to believe 香蕉视频直播� a homeless person? A homeless drug addict sleeping in a park香蕉视频直播�possible overdose?香蕉视频直播� said Jared Charles Dayley, a 24-year-old man who now lives in Cornerstone shelter.

According to those interviewed who experience homelessness, they believe the system is pitted against them and if they were to file a complaint, it would be apt to fail.

This, Dayley claimed, does not only adhere to reporting incidents of assault from authorities; it also includes ordinary citizens.

The idea that Kelowna residents are to blame for harassing people who experience homelessness is something that Cornerstone case manager and member of Journey Home香蕉视频直播檚 lived experience group James Smith would agree with, saying it is a bigger issue than people realize and that there are some 香蕉视频直播減retty scary stories out there.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淯nfortunately, the way most of society looks at people that are living on the street is that they are second rate,香蕉视频直播� Smith said. 香蕉视频直播淪o if they are getting beat up by the cops, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter (because) they香蕉视频直播檙e just homeless drug addicts.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Part 2: We don香蕉视频直播檛 deserve to sit beside 香蕉视频直播榥ormal people香蕉视频直播�: Kelowna homeless

READ MORE:

香蕉视频直播淪ome have said they have never been beaten up, spit on and treated so badly,香蕉视频直播� said Wanda MacKinnon, a member of the Lived Experience Circle on Homelessness. 香蕉视频直播淎nd it seems to be OK to do that to a homeless person here.香蕉视频直播�