A once tranquil Vernon park that has since morphed into 香蕉视频直播渟kid row香蕉视频直播� has left neighbours living in fear, feeling like prisoners in their own home.
The 25th Avenue Linear Park in recent weeks has become home to the homeless.
Shopping carts heaped with items, tents and tarps tied to trees, people lying lifeless on the grass, garbage and drug paraphernalia strewn about. On top of this 香蕉视频直播渆yesore香蕉视频直播� next to the People Place, neighbours to the latest homeless camp say what happens, particularly when night falls, is often unimaginable.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e seen a lot of stuff the last six weeks,香蕉视频直播� said Irene Carter, speaking out for a family member who lives in the area and fears for her safety.
Ladies of the night, daytime drug use in front of children, fighting and theft are a sampling of daily activities in the area.
香蕉视频直播淭here are some who get themselves really spun out and you never know what香蕉视频直播檚 going to happen.香蕉视频直播�
Neighbour Don (who also feared being named and possible backlash) adds: 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really, really frustrating.香蕉视频直播�
Don won香蕉视频直播檛 walk down the Linear Park pathway anymore out of fear, but his frustration is rising as some of these individuals continue to disrespect the area.
香蕉视频直播淭hey were crapping by my door (of vehicle) and had a roll of toilet paper sitting on my wheel.
香蕉视频直播淭hese people aren香蕉视频直播檛 homeless because they香蕉视频直播檝e been forced on the street,香蕉视频直播� said Don, adding it香蕉视频直播檚 due to lifestyle choices. He too is on disability and says you are allowed to earn a certain amount while collecting assistance, and that, he says, is the difference between him and those in Linear Park.
香蕉视频直播淓very person I talk to feels the same as I do香蕉视频直播he homeless are abusing them.香蕉视频直播�
But James Auger lives in a nearby apartment and says these people can香蕉视频直播檛 afford the $1,000 a month rent that most units cost.
香蕉视频直播淭he rent in Vernon is off the charts,香蕉视频直播� said Auger. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of working people that are one or two pay cheques from falling off the edge.香蕉视频直播�
Meanwhile 34-year-old Teresa Williams, who has been staying at the camp for the past five nights, says not everyone fits the stereotypical description that is being given to them.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 always one bad apple. Yes there香蕉视频直播檚 some people who don香蕉视频直播檛 know how to control themselves,香蕉视频直播� said the former Clarence Fulton student who was living in an RV with her husband on Old Kamloops Road until it had to be moved and is desperate to find a place to move it but most campsites say it香蕉视频直播檚 too old, or won香蕉视频直播檛 let her stay because she is on income assistance.
Despite having a diploma in business, Williams lacks work experience, which she says is why no one will hire her. Having grown up with a family on income assistance her whole life, she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know any different, and tears swell in her eyes as she explains how she can香蕉视频直播檛 even remember what it香蕉视频直播檚 like to have a home.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been dealing with this on and off for 15 years,香蕉视频直播� said Williams, who now has a multitude of health problems and battles a drug addiction.
Williams estimates she is one of between a dozen and a half to two dozen people who are sleeping in Linear Park.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 not including those on the edge of Polson Park, behind London Drugs or other places. They are scattered throughout Vernon.香蕉视频直播�
And like her, a lot of them are locals, Williams says, despite what some people assume.
Carter and Williams actually know each other from years past, as the now homeless woman has lived in Vernon for 18 years.
And they both agree that something needs to be done.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 not enough beds in the shelter,香蕉视频直播� said Williams. 香蕉视频直播淭he transition house is usually full due to domestic violence, they opened up a mat program but that only has 10 beds so what do you do when it香蕉视频直播檚 all full?香蕉视频直播�
Williams says there have been talks about a safe injection site, but many in the community don香蕉视频直播檛 want it. She says it香蕉视频直播檚 a great idea to move the problem out from the open, and away from young, innocent eyes.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 enough abandoned buildings in Vernon, just use one of those.
香蕉视频直播淚f the city got together with us we could all come together and find a solution.香蕉视频直播�
Carter says there is an urgent need to at least find more beds, as temperatures are now dropping below freezing at night.
香蕉视频直播淭hey need to do it soon because it香蕉视频直播檚 starting to get cold.香蕉视频直播�
In the meantime, Vernon resident Alan McMahon says portable outhouses at least need to be provided.
香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 see if we can香蕉视频直播檛 start treating them like human beings,香蕉视频直播� said McMahon.
Williams agrees and thanks those that have opened their hearts to those shivering in the park.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e actually had people bring down food, clothes.香蕉视频直播�
