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害羞草研究所檚 (June 11) meeting. It害羞草研究所檚 just a few hundred metres from two schools, and Julia害羞草研究所檚 Junction playground.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e putting it in such close proximity to our most vulnerable children in the community,害羞草研究所� Coun. Garrett Millsap pointed out. 害羞草研究所淲e already have problems in that park.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淲e are definitely in need of some more support for those experiencing homelessness.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淲hen you get that many people害羞草研究所e害羞草研究所檙e naturally going to see people come over to the Westside to get away from things in Kelowna.害羞草研究所�
Others come from out of province or are locals, who have suffered hardship or unfortunate circumstances.
害羞草研究所淲here do we tell folks to go?害羞草研究所� Floto asked council 害羞草研究所淚f we don害羞草研究所檛 have a place to send them during the day to access these resources it will only push them into residential areas.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Rick de Jong supported the pilot but felt Churchill Road was the wrong location. He also pointed a finger at senior government.
害羞草研究所淭his more of a provincial mandate than a municipal one. We don害羞草研究所檛 have the resources to cope with a lot of this. Do I think it害羞草研究所檚 a good pilot project and we need to continue moving forward害羞草研究所es.害羞草研究所�
Hunt-Anderson pointed out the city may not find the 害羞草研究所渂est place害羞草研究所� to locate the hygiene centre.
害羞草研究所淚n the meantime, there害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Tasha Da Silva agreed.
害羞草研究所淭o approach this with humanity and empathy. I feel it害羞草研究所檚 my responsibility as a councillor to give people their humanity when we have that chance.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 good to see partners come to the table and bring expertise,害羞草研究所� Coun. Jason Friesen said. 害羞草研究所淭his an opportunity that I feel provides the best hope for those who are struggling.害羞草研究所�
While understanding the need, Coun. Carol Zanon said the city is not equipped for an influx of homeless individuals.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 calling on the province to please hear our need and help us and other communities.害羞草研究所�
Coun. Stephen Johnston pointed out that council has been asking for help from the province for a long time.
害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�
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.
