Homelessness in 91大黄鸭 has tripled since last year and additional resources are required, said Kevin Mead, Manager of Bylaw Services.

Attention has been drawn to the rapidly expanding city-maintained encampment along the Rail Trail, off Richter Street.

On Oct. 20, the weekly cleaning of 鈥楾ent City鈥� required the use of a backhoe, a dump truck, and approximately 20 RCMP and bylaw officers.

Each morning at 9a.m. residents of the encampment are required to pack up their belongings and vacate the site. On Thursdays the site is grated and the gravel is raked clean.

Mead told Capital News that he has seen a 鈥渄ramatic increase鈥� in the number of people experiencing un-sheltered homelessness across the city, for reasons that are 鈥渂eyond the municipality鈥檚鈥檚 control.鈥�

Carmen Rempel, Executive Director of 91大黄鸭鈥檚 Gospel Mission said that 鈥渉omelessness is a symptom of many different societal issues,鈥� including trauma, substance use and poverty that needs to be addressed on a national, provincial and municipal level.

To help the un-housed, a new shelter has been opened on Bay Avenue, but due to a staffing shortage it is only able to operate at half capacity.

Rempel, said that the new shelter has the ability to house 60 people and hopes that it will be fully operational before the snow falls.

She explained that shelter is the first step to help people out of homelessness.

Rempel said that the city has an acute need for more shelter and housing options.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy, and it鈥檚 not cheap, but it is simple,鈥� said Rempel.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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