More than 30 people spoke their piece at the West 琉璃神社 town hall meeting Thursday night.
The meeting drew almost 300 people and was organized by the City of West 琉璃神社 to give residents a chance to voice concerns and suggest possible solutions on the growing conflicts in downtown that have been caused by homeless people.
West 琉璃神社 residents have started voicing their concerns at the Town Hall meeting. Concerns on the impact of homeless is the biggest topic being discussed. Drug use and enabling biggest reported problem in downtown core.
鈥� 琉璃神社 (@琉璃神社CapNews)
Speakers鈥� solutions ranged from more affordable housing, shipping homeless off to a segregated area, less shelters, tough love, better mental health aid, compassion and increased law enforcement.
One of the largest concerns was the location of the West 琉璃神社 Shelter Society that is now housed at the Westbank United Church on Brown Road in downtown.
Speakers argued that drug-use facilities only bring more homeless people and enables drug users.
鈥淚f there is real interest in harm reduction, the people (council) should be concentrating on us, the taxpayers and business people,鈥� one speaker said.
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More sympathetic ideas were also voiced to council.
Rev. Hogman from the Westbank United Church spoke to remind people to be committed to everyone in the West 琉璃神社 community and that the city is 鈥渋n it together.鈥�
Other voices reached out in support of the positive initiatives to help the homeless.
鈥淚t takes a whole village to raise a child,鈥� speaker Doug Brown said.
鈥淭hey are in great need. (We) need to play a part in helping.鈥�
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West 琉璃神社 council was joined at the meeting by representatives of city partners: Westbank First Nations, BC Housing, RCMP, Interior Health and the West 琉璃神社 Shelter Society.
Council said they were going to listen and interpret all the put-forth concerns and adapt new solutions and city plans with their partners to improve the conditions with homeless people in downtown.
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of our community for the many people that came here tonight,鈥� Mayor Gord Milsom said.
鈥淓motions ranged from deep compassion to fear, it鈥檚 an emotional topic and I found it emotional. But that鈥檚 what we wanted to do, we wanted to listen and now we鈥檙e going to think about what was said.鈥�
West 琉璃神社 council and WFN鈥檚 Town Hall for residents concludes. Over 20 speakers came forward to discuss downtown issues which focused on homeless and drug use in the city.
鈥� 琉璃神社 (@琉璃神社CapNews)
No date has been set for when council plans to present the reactive action plan.
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