Photo: Wayne Moore

Dr. Alina Turner

An absolute end to homelessness is likely not going to happen in Kelowna within the next five years.

Dr. Alina Turner, hired to support the work of the city's Journey Home Task Force, told council Monday, the ultimate goal is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in the city.

To do that, she says, the city requires a blueprint with concrete action that is realistic, with results that are measurable and show positive change.

"We want to introduce the concept of functional zero, which is the idea that you have a homeless serving system that is efficient and effective, which means you have certain targets in terms of length of stay," she told city council Monday.

"For instance, if somebody does become homeless, the services are available in real time to get them back on their feet within 10 days of staying in shelters. It means people are not lingering in emergency shelters for years at a time, or sleeping rough year-after-year."

Dr. Turner says the city can't predict, or even stop every single person from ever becoming homeless.

"That would be an absolute end to homelessness.

"While that is very ambitious and very worthy of our goal setting and visioning, that is likely not going to happen in the next five years."

She says the homeless serving system would begin at a co-ordinated access point where people can easily be assessed and referred to the right agency.

"Is that one agency, is that multiple agencies? That's our job to figure out for Kelowna.

"At that point, we also know they can be diverted out of the homeless serving system, or they're already experiencing the issue and they need more intensive intervention.

"Then, we can direct them to rapid rehousing, intensive case management, supportive housing with care and supports onsite. Is it transitional housing, affordable housing, or just rent subsidy."

Dr. Turner says for the system to work, there will likely be a need for more permanent supportive housing and affordable housing in the city.

More consultations with the community will be held over the next few months before a final plan is unveiled at the end of June.