The ramifications of the City of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 decision to move the Leon Avenue homeless camp to Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 north end has concerned residents speaking out.

On Saturday morning at a restaurant in the Kelowna Innovation Centre, Knox Mountain neighbours and other residents of the north end of the city met to discuss and share their confusion over the city害羞草研究所檚 decision.

While various speakers acknowledged the difficulty when it comes to homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness, a petition was started to lobby the city to find a better place for people experiencing homelessness to live.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 have the answers, we害羞草研究所檙e just starting with our mountain,害羞草研究所� said petition organizer Dena Bairbash.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e starting to make sure that our mountain is kept safe and sound and petitioning the city allows to get us in front of council and show them that we were kind of side-swiped with how this happened and we want to make sure that they can see the numbers of people that are here and we deserve a right for transparency.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 homeless unhappy with temporary overnight shelter situation

READ MORE: Knox Mountain area residents hold protest over homeless camp move

The City of Kelowna decided to move the homeless camp on Leon Avenue to two sites in the north end of the city on Nov. 25. While the Knox Mountain site hasn害羞草研究所檛 been used yet, the second site on Recreation Avenue next to the Kelowna Curling Club has hosted dozens of people experiencing homelessness and residents want assurances from the city the new sites will be temporary.

Various speakers at Saturday morning害羞草研究所檚 gathering also shared their concern and outrage that there was no warning of the sites coming to their neighbourhood.

Concerned residents in have organized to petition the city in hopes to move the now-relocated homeless camp away from Knox Mountain and other north end sites.

害羞草研究所� Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC)

害羞草研究所淲e care about our community,害羞草研究所� said Bairbash.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 overwhelmed by the support, I think it害羞草研究所檚 incredible that we have this many here. We had 20 people (originally) and that grew to almost 150 people. I think that its more than people just from the north end, these are people from all over Kelowna and other places. Everyone loves that mountain.害羞草研究所�

Bairbash and the Downtown Knox Mountain Association said that Knox is a welcoming place but the city害羞草研究所檚 ill-conceived decision needs to be addressed and that both the city and the province of B.C. need to find better options to help the homeless population and keep the nearby communities safe.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not an 害羞草研究所榰s versus them害羞草研究所� problem. It害羞草研究所檚 a city problem,害羞草研究所� said one concerned speaker.

Information on the petition to the City of Kelowna can be forwarded to saveknoxmountain@yahoo.ca.

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