There were emotional appeals to and among West 琉璃神社 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鈥檚 (June 11) meeting. It鈥檚 just a few hundred metres from two schools, and Julia鈥檚 Junction playground.
鈥淲e鈥檙e putting it in such close proximity to our most vulnerable children in the community,鈥� Coun. Garrett Millsap pointed out. 鈥淲e already have problems in that park.鈥�
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 琉璃神社.
She noted that the Bartley Road temporary shelter was recently approved for another three-year term, but there is still no permanent solution.
鈥淲e are definitely in need of some more support for those experiencing homelessness.鈥�
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 琉璃神社.
鈥淲hen you get that many people鈥e鈥檙e naturally going to see people come over to the Westside to get away from things in 琉璃神社.鈥�
Others come from out of province or are locals, who have suffered hardship or unfortunate circumstances.
鈥淲here do we tell folks to go?鈥� Floto asked council 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 have a place to send them during the day to access these resources it will only push them into residential areas.鈥�
Coun. Rick de Jong supported the pilot but felt Churchill Road was the wrong location. He also pointed a finger at senior government.
鈥淭his more of a provincial mandate than a municipal one. We don鈥檛 have the resources to cope with a lot of this. Do I think it鈥檚 a good pilot project and we need to continue moving forward鈥es.鈥�
Hunt-Anderson pointed out the city may not find the 鈥渂est place鈥� to locate the hygiene centre.
鈥淚n the meantime, there鈥檚 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.鈥�
Coun. Tasha Da Silva agreed.
鈥淭o approach this with humanity and empathy. I feel it鈥檚 my responsibility as a councillor to give people their humanity when we have that chance.鈥�
The centre would be supported by 琉璃神社 Gospel Mission, Canadian Mental Health Association, Turning Points, Central Okanagan Food Bank, Salvation Army Partners in Resources, Interior Health, KANDU, and Westbank First Nation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see partners come to the table and bring expertise,鈥� Coun. Jason Friesen said. 鈥淭his an opportunity that I feel provides the best hope for those who are struggling.鈥�
While understanding the need, Coun. Carol Zanon said the city is not equipped for an influx of homeless individuals.
鈥淚鈥檓 calling on the province to please hear our need and help us and other communities.鈥�
Coun. Stephen Johnston pointed out that council has been asking for help from the province for a long time.
鈥淲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.鈥�
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.
