Council says no to providing secure location for homeless
Osoyoos council has rejected a request to provide a more secure space for a wellknown homeless person in the South Okanagan community.
Council on Monday made public a motion and vote made in a Nov. 20 in-camera session that would have the town not provide a “location to homeless people to camp and/or locate their belongings.”
“Council certainly does not disagree with people’s right to camp outside if they so wish,” explained Mayor Sue McKortoff. “But it’s just that we cannot provide these services.”
The motion cited liability, health concerns and impacts on the community and municipal resources if the town sets a precedent and provides a designated space specifically for the homeless person and generally for other homeless people.
“I’m sure Interior Health would have something to say about it, too, if we decided to take that on,” said McKortoff. “So, we’re certainly looking forward to having a committee, perhaps a group that might step forward, and look at dealing with homelessness.”
The motion followed a Nov. 6 request from advocates for homeless people in the community looking for help for the homeless person, specifically a more secure space to pitch a tent and leave belongings, which are now often scattered about town and subject to interference.
That led to a larger discussion about the plight of all homeless people in the community — and a request for more information on their number and current status.
At its Nov. 20 meeting, council took a wait-and-see approach on the homelessness issue, looking for community commitment to the effort before it would dedicate resources.
“It is important that the groups passionate about the issue be part of seeking a possible solution, whether it be a temporary fix or a permanent fix,” Janette Van Vianen, the town’s director of corporate services, said in a report delivered to council.
“Community groups may have better success in obtaining grant funding to assist in finding solutions.”
The town, she added, “currently does not own any facilities that would be suitable for a shelter,” nor the capacity to supervise and operate a shelter.