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Leon Avenue move displaces homeless residents

The Gospel Mission香蕉视频直播檚 outreach team said more people are now sleeping on the street
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Residents experiencing homelessness have set up camp on a baseball diamond in the city香蕉视频直播檚 west end. (Jen Zielinski - 香蕉视频直播)

It has been three days since the City of Kelowna moved those living without a home on Leon Avenue to new locations in the city香蕉视频直播檚 north end, but it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 appear a lot of people are using the new sites.

On Tuesday, the city designated two parks to temporarily house people experiencing homelessness, but after the first night the number of people camping has dropped significantly raising questions about where they have gone.

香蕉视频直播淥ur outreach case worker went by there this morning and she noticed about 11 tents, so that香蕉视频直播檚 gone down considerably,香蕉视频直播 said Sonja Menyes, director of volunteers at Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Gospel Mission.

She said they aren香蕉视频直播檛 sure where people are staying, but they have noticed some people sleeping rough in doorways and different alleys throughout the downtown core. They also haven香蕉视频直播檛 notice a drop in the number of people using their services, which suggests people are still around.

Tom Wilson with the City of Kelowna said there is some shelter space available at the Gospel Mission and Cornerstone, which could account for why fewer people are setting up their tents at the temporary overnight sites.

香蕉视频直播淚 know outreach workers with the Gospel Mission and Interior Health are looking for these folks to make sure they香蕉视频直播檙e safe and warm, and that香蕉视频直播檚 continuing every night as well,香蕉视频直播 said Wilson, acknowledging that some people are sheltering in doorways around the city.

READ MORE: Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 homeless unhappy with temporary overnight shelter situation

READ MORE: Kelowna mayor says moving homeless camps not an easy decision

Catherine Miller, who is experiencing homelessness, said she used to have a tent on Leon Avenue, but has since found a bed at the Gospel Mission. She said it has been difficult for those who weren香蕉视频直播檛 lucky enough to find space at an indoor shelter, especially after the move from Leon Avenue.

香蕉视频直播淪ometimes some of them just sit down on the sidewalk because they香蕉视频直播檙e tired,and someone from bylaw or someone else would come and tell them to move. So, you香蕉视频直播檙e all over the town every half hour. How can you get better? You can香蕉视频直播檛 get healthy because you have to move, move, move,香蕉视频直播 Miller said.

香蕉视频直播淏ut where are you supposed to go?香蕉视频直播

Another resident experiencing homelessness said the situation has become more difficult since the move.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e so far away from resources. It香蕉视频直播檚 a long walk from Recreation Avenue to the Mission. We have to pack everything up and put it all in a C can, then take it out and set up at night again,香蕉视频直播 she said.

香蕉视频直播淲e can only take our stuff out at 7 p.m. but the Mission closes at 6 p.m., so we can香蕉视频直播檛 even do our laundry during the day.香蕉视频直播

香蕉视频直播淧eople think we don香蕉视频直播檛 try. I used to think the same but now that I am homeless, I understand how hard it is. It香蕉视频直播檚 not easy moving somewhere else trying to start over again.香蕉视频直播

READ MORE: Fundraisers clash over Kelowna homelessness issue



twila.amato@blackpress.ca

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Twila Amato

About the Author: Twila Amato

Twila was a radio reporter based in northern Vancouver Island. She won the Jack Webster Student Journalism Award while at BCIT and received a degree in ancient and modern Greek history from McGill University.
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