As the city害羞草研究所檚 Social Development Department manager put it 害羞草研究所淭hese numbers are simply heartwarming.害羞草研究所�
At council害羞草研究所檚 Monday (June 24) meeting, Colleen Cornock related several success stories from the city害羞草研究所檚 tiny home project.
They included two individuals who left Step Place (Crawly Avenue) and are now in market housing, another person who moved into supportive housing, and five people who found full-time jobs.
Cornock added that 16 people have connected with mental health and substance use supports through Interior Health.
害羞草研究所淭he stores are encouraging and are aligned with our underlying housing first principle. That people are better able to move forward with their lives if they are housed first.害羞草研究所�
The success comes in the first six months of the city creating the Social Development Department, which replaced the Central Okanagan Journey Home Society.
害羞草研究所淚 was one of those on council who grudgingly approved setting this department up,害羞草研究所� Councillor Rick Webber said. 害羞草研究所淚 feel more confident now that there is a detailed plan in place.害羞草研究所�
Councillor Luke Stack said the city has worked for years on issues the new department is now handling, and has wanted to see success stories.
害羞草研究所淚 think today you害羞草研究所檝e pulled the curtain back a bit for us to see that there is some success and we are making progress.害羞草研究所�
Mayor Tom Dyas singled out the city's tiny homes project.
害羞草研究所淭hat model was not something that the province was extremely fond of. Now it害羞草研究所檚 one of their guiding principles害羞草研究所ecause of the initiative we moved forward.害羞草研究所�
Cornock told council that the 60 units at Step Place are 100 per cent tenanted, and Trailside (60 units at 2470 Highway 97) is just over 50 per cent tenanted.
She said there are agreements for the rest of the units at Trailside. Another 60 units will be located at another location in the city soon.
While impressed with the progress, Coun. Ron Cannan said Kelowna residents are telling him they are losing confidence in council.
He cited a video created by neighbours living near Stephen害羞草研究所檚 Village, a supportive housing project on Aggasiz Road.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e tired of regular public drug use, parties, noise, and open drug dealing. Some involved are residents of Stephen害羞草研究所檚 Village.
Cannan said the operator has been contacted and that the situation sometimes improves but for a short while.
He encouraged staff to work with social agency providers and good neighbour agreements to ensure issues are followed up.
害羞草研究所淩ight now they have more holes than Swiss cheese, they害羞草研究所檙e not being held accountable. If we want to gain public confidence I think that害羞草研究所檚 where we need to take action to start with.害羞草研究所�
