Achi news desk-
Piles and piles of trash were removed Tuesday from Kelown, BC’s so-called tent city, as crews did a major cleanup in the area.
Kelowna RCMP, bylaw services, city staff, Interior Health and BC Housing, as well as several non-profit agencies, were on site to help with the massive multi-day cleanup along the rail trail.
“It’s really about maintenance, it’s about the health and safety of individuals from a general health standpoint, from a hygiene standpoint, from a fire standpoint,” said City of Kelowna Underground Services supervisor Nick Bonnett.
“We partner with everyone in the city when we do something like this to be able to offer the services to everyone who needs the services, what we can, and to make sure they’re connected.”
Basically, residents sheltering in the area were asked to move their tents and belongings from the southern side of the camp to the other side.
This is to enable crews to enter and clean the south side of the camp before residents are allowed to move back.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.
“There has been a verbal, written warning to everyone who uses the space. So, they’ve had the opportunity to go through their stuff,” said Bonnett.
“Machines can go in and we can clean, we can rake, and we help individuals get rid of things they don’t need and they can get rid of junk.”
According to Bonnett, the cleanup of the site has sparked a mixed response from those who live in the city-designated outdoor shelter space.
“On the whole, most people invite this activity. We are getting comments from many individuals who requested the cleaning. We have regular rubbish removals scheduled throughout the week for individuals. It’s something that people have asked for in general – that we clean up, rake the sites even for everyone to make it easier for people to camp in,” said Bonnett.
“Overall it has been positive. There are always those who are less interested but as you can see behind me, people are moving and helping them move over.”
Bonnett confirmed that no one was being asked to leave the site. And according to the city, the cleaning that happens often at this time of year is “just a matter of maintenance”.
Under provincial regulations, cities must provide a designated place for people to camp if there is not enough space available in shelters.
“The camp is here, unfortunately because there is not enough housing in Kelowna, until we have enough supportive housing, and really low income for the people who live here,” said community advocate Heather Friesen.
Advocates say over 100 people currently live in the city-designated outdoor shelter site and the population will likely continue to swell.
Friesen added that there are not enough services available for the number of people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna, even with the 60 new tiny homes now operating across the street.
“Sixty people. So that means 57 — if it’s full; I honestly don’t know how many people were approved to go into it — shelter beds have been released,” Friesen said.
“More than 57 people in Kelowna are experiencing homelessness.”
The clean-up is expected to take a few days to complete, and the railway line will be closed to public traffic while the work continues.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
