Shelter beds at capacity

It has yet to snow in the North Okanagan, but shelter beds are already at capacity.

This includes 10 additional extreme weather beds that were set up last week at Gateway Shelter, according to Kelly Fehr, director of operations for the John Howard Society.

“We're just trying to throw mats down at Howard House,” said Fehr, which allows another six people to come in from the cold.

Gateway has 25 regularly funded beds while the John Howard Society has 24.

“We are at capacity every night,” Fehr told Vernon city council Monday.

Despite the added beds, 33 people were found still camping rough in the Vernon area just last week, said Annette Sharkey, executive director of the Social Planning Council.

The extreme weather beds are usually opened when the temperature drops below zero, but last week, BC Housing allowed a number of communities experiencing a high volume of homeless people to set up early.

Fehr said he was thankful BC Housing had allowed the extra beds to open early.

Social service agencies have expressed concern over the increased numbers of homeless.

Sharkey said the community had done “a really great job of bringing people in from the outside,” but was not able to find permanent housing for them.

Providing statistics for council, Sharkey said:

• the number of homeless-related complaints to the bylaws department had increased
• the RCMP report an increase in property crimes in the Vernon area, although violent crime has gone down
• the number of seniors and families using the Upper Room Mission in order to eat has increased
•  there have been approximately 40 drug overdoses in Vernon between Jan.-June this year
• Community Policing reports close to 700 needles found in public places in Vernon between Jan.-June this year

“Our community is still a safe community. Definitely,” Sharkey insisted.

But in terms of affordability, there is a widening gap.

Sharkey said those on a low income or income assistance could not meet basic needs, such as rent and food.

“This is where we see the desperation,” Sharkey said. “They have to beg, borrow or steal.”

In terms of supportive housing and affordable housing, Sharkey said small towns across B.C. were in crisis and the message had to be sent to Ottawa where work has begun on a national housing strategy. 

"I really want it to be recognized the provinces can't be looked at equally. B.C. needs extra support. We need funding for supportive housing and we also need other types of strategies that encourage rental housing to be built in the private sector."