Residents experiencing homelessness on Leon Avenue are unhappy about their new living situation after the city relocated them to two city parks yesterday.
According to new rules set out by the city, they are not allowed to stay the entire day and can only stay at the two sites between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Several people who stayed at the new camp set up by the Kelowna Curling Club, said they now have no where to go during the day to keep warm, which is worse than staying on Leon Avenue where could stay warm in their tents.
About 20 tents were set up in a ball diamond near Recreation Ave overnight after those experiencing homelessness were moved from Leon Ave on Tuesday.
害羞草研究所� Jen Zielinski (@Jen_zee)
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 hard when you害羞草研究所檙e homeless. I don害羞草研究所檛 know what I害羞草研究所檓 supposed to do with my stuff during the day. They gave us two bags to put our stuff in but if we don害羞草研究所檛 come back for one day, then they throw it out,害羞草研究所� said Stephen Simpson.
害羞草研究所淚 understand it害羞草研究所檚 not necessarily supposed to be their problem and it is a burden on society but homelessness isn害羞草研究所檛 something that害羞草研究所檚 going to go away and it害羞草研究所檚 not something that can just disappear.
害羞草研究所淎 lot of people don害羞草研究所檛 understand there害羞草研究所檚 reasons for homelessness. You lose family members that you can害羞草研究所檛 live without. People don害羞草研究所檛 realize the value of love and having a good family or having the things you need in life.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Knox Mountain area residents hold protest over homeless camp move
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Gerard Joyal with Journey Home said it害羞草研究所檚 difficult for the homeless to have to pack up everything and set it up day-after-day.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really challenging for people living without homes,害羞草研究所� said Joyal. 害羞草研究所淭his is a stop-gap, this is not a solution. I think that害羞草研究所檚 an important thing everybody needs to understand and remember that this is to alleviate some of the pressures, some of the hazards and some of the risks.害羞草研究所�
He added that Journey Home will hopefully have their mat program available soon. He also said they害羞草研究所檙e hoping to find a permanent location for more housing.
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Mark Burley, the executive director for the Downtown Kelowna Assoication, said the decision to move the encampment is a step in the right direction, but not a long-term solution.
害羞草研究所淢ore than anything, we were worried about safety down there. The tents were butted up against each other. We had a fire Monday night 害羞草研究所� there was a fire in the middle of the night because someone had a heating element inside their tent. It could害羞草研究所檝e gone to other places,害羞草研究所� Burley said.
害羞草研究所淪o not to have them on Leon and to have tent residents in a place that害羞草研究所檚 safer for them, I think is a win situation but it害羞草研究所檚 certainly not an answer.害羞草研究所�
He added that they anticipate homeless residents will still be seen downtown throughout the day.
害羞草研究所淭hey will be going to the Kelowna Gospel Mission 害羞草研究所� people avail themselves of their services. So if anyone wants something to eat, a coffee, a shower and as normally did that when they lived on Leon, I don害羞草研究所檛 see why they might not come down and do it again.害羞草研究所�
After dismantling the encampment on Leon Avenue the city put up no camping and no sidewalk obstruction signs along the street to make sure tents don害羞草研究所檛 reappear.
About 20 tents were set up at the ball diamond on Recreation Avenue and there were no tents set up at the Knox Mountain Park area designated for those experiencing homelessness.
twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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