As remediation work continued at Kelowna, B.C.’s, homeless encampment alongside the Okanagan Rail Path for the second day, the town introduced extra sweeping adjustments for the tent metropolis and the roughly 90 folks sheltering there.
“It’s at some extent the place we consider it’s time for a change to try to do higher with what now we have,” stated Kevin Mead, bylaw providers supervisor for the Metropolis of Kelowna.
The town-designated out of doors sheltering website, north of the downtown core, will quickly take up a smaller footprint.
Tent sizes might be decreased from the present 12 by 12 toes to eight by eight toes and there’ll solely be 60 tents on website, which might be assigned to people.
In line with the town, the location will function extra like an indoor shelter with extra guidelines and inside a managed setting.
The opposite main change the town has introduced is the location will not be open 24 hours a day and as an alternative function solely between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m.
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“It is a short-term shelter even the placement of that’s certainly short-term,” Mead stated. “There’s not an intent to extend any further infrastructure nor make {that a} spot for everlasting residency.”
The brand new measures are along with the adjustments introduced a day earlier, together with fencing across the website, 24-7 safety and a stamp system to forestall anybody however tent metropolis residents to enter the premises.
“Heartache, unhappiness,” resident David Lauer stated as he described his ideas on the main adjustments.
Lauer, who has known as tent metropolis dwelling for the previous yr, stated the uncertainty is inflicting rather a lot angst as he wonders the place he could find yourself.
“It’s very regarding, really. I don’t wish to be on the road. A few of us aren’t drug addicts,” Lauer informed International Information. “There’s a number of good those who have had dangerous luck.”
Advocates for the unhoused inhabitants are expressing concern the brand new measures will solely exacerbate the homelessness disaster within the metropolis as extra folks desperately search shelter on downtown streets and in again alleys.
‘They should go someplace, folks don’t simply disappear,” stated Tony Baxter, a former outreach employee.
Baxter stated he believes the displacement of weak folks amid a scarcity of shelter area will result in extra hospitalizations and overdoses and value taxpayers extra money ultimately.
“It’s a step backwards,” Baxter stated. “This cash might as an alternative go in direction of social housing and different wraparound providers to deal with folks…and it could be a humane strategy and stabilize folks, however as an alternative they’re criminalizing homelessness much more.”
The town expects to finish the remediation work within the coming days together with the transition to the brand new operational measures.
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