Premier Christy Clark is well aware of the concern about homeless people congregating on Leon Avenue in downtown Kelowna.

Since the street falls within her Westside-Kelowna MLA riding, Clark said she gets lots of feedback from her constituents about the situation on Leon.

害羞草研究所淚 think generally there is a range of concerns expressed. There is the safety of their community issue which is a legitimate concern on one side, while at the same time others have real compassion for the health of those individuals who find themselves homeless and facing mental health or addiction issues,害羞草研究所� Clark said.

In an interview with the 害羞草研究所 last week, Clark said her government害羞草研究所檚 model for the last decade has been to provide housing for the homeless.

害羞草研究所淲hatever illness an individual is dealing with, you can害羞草研究所檛 get better if you don害羞草研究所檛 have a roof over your head,害羞草研究所� Clark said.

害羞草研究所淭hat has been our approach for a long time and we know it works.害羞草研究所�

Clark害羞草研究所檚 comments come on the heels of a forum attended by invited local business leaders and social service agency representatives last month to discuss the homeless people problem on Leon.

The forum keynote guest speakers reiterated what Clark is saying, that finding a home for the homeless should be the first priority for homeless people before starting to deal with addiction or mental health issues.

The forum organizers felt those in attendance were widely receptive to getting something done to address Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 homeless problem, the common sentiment expressed that can害羞草研究所檛 continually be ignored.

Clark offered some statistics about her government害羞草研究所檚 commitment to social services: That $355 million has been allotted over the next five years to pay for social housing projects across the province, and that 3,000 people are supported through housing programs in Kelowna.

Clark said helping Interior communities meet housing needs for both homeless and those on limited or low incomes remains an ongoing challenge her government wants to help address.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e happy to 害羞草研究所╠o it, and it害羞草研究所檚 something we害羞草研究所檝e been doing for a long time for communities that need it,害羞草研究所� she said.