Shelley Wold remembers Nov. 28, 2021, very well, as she looks over the Similkameen River, nearby a Princeton residential neighbourhood.

It was the day she left her rental unit on Allison Flats and moved to a small beach, sheltered by trees but devastated by the flood just two weeks earlier.

害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 have anywhere to go, so I came here,害羞草研究所� she told the Spotlight.

Wold makes no pretenses. She wasn害羞草研究所檛 displaced by the natural disaster. She and a friend had exhausted their last housing option.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not all perfect, I害羞草研究所檒l tell you that.害羞草研究所�

For the entire winter Wold, 53, lived alone among the trees, and survived with 害羞草研究所渁 fire, a lot of blankets, and a lot of clothes.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he (Princeton) Baptist Church was wonderful. They got me a tent, and helped with wood and food.害羞草研究所�

As the weather warmed others joined her camp, some staying just for awhile, and others putting down at least some kind of roots.

There are currently four adults living beside the river.

害羞草研究所淲e are a family and everybody shares. We have rules and everybody has a job. We try to stay happy害羞草研究所�Yesterday (redacted) caught a fish and we all had fish for dinner,害羞草研究所� Wold said.

Mayor Spencer Coyne says while homelessness has been a growing problem in Princeton over the past few years, this is the first time a tent city has been established.

In past, he said, homelessness was mostly the invisible kind, with people couch surfing, for example. Transients were also part of the homeless equation.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not the same. These people who are here in this situation, these are residents and in some cases longtime Princeton residents,害羞草研究所� he said.

Last month, Coyne organized a meeting of community partner groups that have all been in contact, in some way, with the camp.

Representatives from Princeton Family Services, Princeton and District Community Services Society, Princeton General Hospital, Interior Health and United Way attended and 害羞草研究所渃ame up with a loose game plan,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲e are going to try to find housing options. I know that sounds like the obvious thing, but it害羞草研究所檚 a little more difficult than that.害羞草研究所�

He expects some funding will be available for a non-profit group to conduct a homeless count, which will support the community害羞草研究所檚 efforts with BC Housing.

A second meeting is planned for the near future.

The mayor took a personal interest in situation this summer, visiting the location and trying to assess needs.

害羞草研究所淭hese are our people,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been criticized for enabling because we took water, and some other people have been taking water, and checking in and trying to help were we can help.害羞草研究所�

He fears 害羞草研究所渆ventually somebody is going to die either from the elements or substance use.害羞草研究所�

Coyne has received many complaints from neighbours to the camp.

害羞草研究所淚 understand their point of view and I害羞草研究所檓 sympathetic to it,害羞草研究所� responded Coyne.

害羞草研究所淏ut at the same time, we as a community are only going to be as strong as our most vulnerable.

害羞草研究所淪o if we can害羞草研究所檛 show some compassion and mercy towards the people who are possibly in the worst place that they can be in right now, then I think we have to take a second to think about what kind of community we want to be.害羞草研究所�

Wold agrees the tents and their presence on provincial land has angered those around them, while noting the camp is not visible from the street or any area houses.

害羞草研究所淪ome people are really cool, but some people are so mean. They yell at us. They tell us to get out and that they think we are stupid. We are just monkeys in a cage to those people,害羞草研究所� Wold said.

She candidly acknowledges the existence of substance use at the site, but insists the group does not cause problems for others, or create crime in the area, or hurt anyone. 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 steal,害羞草研究所� she said.

When asked if she is afraid of her environment or vulnerable situation, Wold shakes her head.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just afraid I害羞草研究所檓 never going to have a place to live again.害羞草研究所�

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com