There were emotional appeals to and among West Kelowna council to approve a pilot hygiene centre downtown for people experiencing homelessness.
It's proposed for property owned by the Central Okanagan Food Bank at 2545 Churchill Road.
The location was an issue for several councillors during Tuesday乌鸦传媒檚 (June 11) meeting. It乌鸦传媒檚 just a few hundred metres from two schools, and Julia乌鸦传媒檚 Junction playground.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e putting it in such close proximity to our most vulnerable children in the community,乌鸦传媒� Coun. Garrett Millsap pointed out. 乌鸦传媒淲e already have problems in that park.乌鸦传媒�
Those problems according to city staff include homeless individuals using the spray park to shower and frequenting the washrooms.
The Westside Resource Hygiene Centre planned for the Churchill Road property will provide those services along with hot meals, laundry facilities, and other supports.
Community and Social Development Coordinator Melissa Hunt-Anderson told council there are approximately 75 unhoused people in West Kelowna.
She noted that the Bartley Road temporary shelter was recently approved for another three-year term, but there is still no permanent solution.
乌鸦传媒淲e are definitely in need of some more support for those experiencing homelessness.乌鸦传媒�
Hunt-Anderson added other supports are dwindling, including the closure of the city's Rapid Rehousing Program, and a reduction in services by non-profit KANDU. The organization has served vulnerable people in the community for years.
Council also heard that the unhoused population will likely grow, including migration across the bridge. Bylaw Community Safety Officer, Danica Floto, said approximately 250 to 275 people are experiencing homelessness in Kelowna.
乌鸦传媒淲hen you get that many people乌鸦传媒e乌鸦传媒檙e naturally going to see people come over to the Westside to get away from things in Kelowna.乌鸦传媒�
Others come from out of province or are locals, who have suffered hardship or unfortunate circumstances.
乌鸦传媒淲here do we tell folks to go?乌鸦传媒� Floto asked council 乌鸦传媒淚f we don乌鸦传媒檛 have a place to send them during the day to access these resources it will only push them into residential areas.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Rick de Jong supported the pilot but felt Churchill Road was the wrong location. He also pointed a finger at senior government.
乌鸦传媒淭his more of a provincial mandate than a municipal one. We don乌鸦传媒檛 have the resources to cope with a lot of this. Do I think it乌鸦传媒檚 a good pilot project and we need to continue moving forward乌鸦传媒es.乌鸦传媒�
Hunt-Anderson pointed out the city may not find the 乌鸦传媒渂est place乌鸦传媒� to locate the hygiene centre.
乌鸦传媒淚n the meantime, there乌鸦传媒檚 going to be maybe upwards of 100 people without a shower or place to go to the bathroom losing dignity, spiraling downward, and causing more community safety issues.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Tasha Da Silva agreed.
乌鸦传媒淭o approach this with humanity and empathy. I feel it乌鸦传媒檚 my responsibility as a councillor to give people their humanity when we have that chance.乌鸦传媒�
The centre would be supported by Kelowna Gospel Mission, Canadian Mental Health Association, Turning Points, Central Okanagan Food Bank, Salvation Army Partners in Resources, Interior Health, KANDU, and Westbank First Nation.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 good to see partners come to the table and bring expertise,乌鸦传媒� Coun. Jason Friesen said. 乌鸦传媒淭his an opportunity that I feel provides the best hope for those who are struggling.乌鸦传媒�
While understanding the need, Coun. Carol Zanon said the city is not equipped for an influx of homeless individuals.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 calling on the province to please hear our need and help us and other communities.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Stephen Johnston pointed out that council has been asking for help from the province for a long time.
乌鸦传媒淲e are faced with picking up where the province has failed to live up to its mandate in many ways. We have a responsibility to not only look out for those experiencing homelessness, but also children, our seniors, our teens.乌鸦传媒�
After defeated votes to defer a decision and to provide the pilot, council directed staff to prepare a report outlining the required resources to mitigate the impacts of the hygiene centre on the neighbourhood. It will come back to council in the next one or two meetings.
Mayor Gord Milsom did not attend the June 11 meeting.
