Needles, fires and crime

Fires, numerous needles left lying about and criminal activity are three reasons homeless camps were pulled down in Vernon on Thursday – and the cleanup has cost thousands of dollars, according to the City of Vernon.

Staff have confirmed that two homeless camps were pulled down, with bylaw officers and city operations crews removing large volumes of refuse from locations in Polson Park and Kal Tire Place green spaces. 

Castanet reported on Thursday that the Kal Tire Place camp had been bulldozed over.

“The state of the camps was such that both unsanitary and unsafe conditions were occurring, and both public safety and the safety of the users were at risk," said Clint Kanester, manager of protective services. "In addition, creek contamination, environmental concerns and criminal activity being accommodated in specific camps were of community concern."

Homeless tenters in both locations had been notified weeks ago that the camps would be decommissioned for the health and safety of the campers, residents and sensitive environmental areas. Posters had been placed on trees in both areas.

A number of fires had occurred both in tents and in materials hauled into the camps. Additionally, large numbers of needles and general lack of sanitation in the camps concerned the City, which has received a higher-than-normal volume of calls from the public regarding these sites.

"Materials hauled into the camps are left behind once the first snowfall occurs, creating additional issues and costs in order to clean up these materials in the spring," said Kanester.

The cleanup costs for abandoned and decommissioned camps in Vernon this year is approximately $25,000.

And some of that refuse hasn't gone far. A resident reports seeing a tent, books, water bottles and other items strewn in front of homes on 33rd Street, behind the Super 8 hotel. He said it looked like stuff abandoned by people leaving the Kal Tire Place camp who were headed into the downtown.

The City has been working closely with service agencies to provide outreach and ensure that shelter space was available for campers.