Temporary overnight camp at Recreation Avenue dismantled

UPDATE: 4:15 p.m.

Recreation Avenue has packed up most of the infrastructure and hopes the addition of 26 temporary beds at the bridge housing on Fuller Avenue along with their 40 beds will accommodate those living in the overnight camps.  

"Its been thanks in large part to the unbelievable collaboration among services organizations in our city, along with BC Housing, an addition of 26 beds and mats were made temporarily available effective today (Monday) to bridge the community to the opening of the Welcome Inn later next week," says Darren Caul, director of community safety

The Metro Church Welcome Inn will have between 20 to 40 beds available, which the city hopes to be enough for those in need. 

"We don’t know that yet the population of people who are sheltering overnight fluctuates we know that right now we guess that there are more than 60 who are sheltering overnight city-wide," says Caul. 

He adds, "we are starting to see vacancy at existing shelters and that is an important point… we’re seeing anywhere from 15 to 25 vacancies at existing shelters since Fuller opened. When you start to add up all the numbers it's close but we’re not there yet and we still have work to do."

Even with all the indoor shelters available, both temporary overnight shelters will remain open for those wanting to camp outside from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m.

"As long as there is an inadequate shelter space in-out city people all continue to have the legal right to shelter outside and the city, therefore, has the legal obligation to designate pubic space for that purpose so we are continuing to deliver on that legal obligation through the continued designation at both the Poplar point and Recreation Avenue sites," explains Caul. 

Toilets, sharps disposal bin and garbage containers will still be available on site but personal items cannot be left in a park as they would be deemed abandoned where bylaws would get involved in removing the items. 

The warming tent, harm reduction tent and shipping containers (used to hold personal items) have been removed. 

ORIGINAL: NOON

The temporary overnight shelter has a different look this morning as the City of Kelowna dismantled the homeless camp after the security company chose not to renew their contract. 

The enhanced security firm was contracted by the city but after Shane Bourdin, a 39-year-old male passed away overnight at the camp they cite unacceptable liability as the cause for not renewing their contract. Without the security to monitor the area through the night, the site is no longer viable. 

Fortunately, bridge housing at 455 Fuller Avenue opens this week with 40 space for those transitioning, they’ve also added 26 temporary indoor spaces to accommodate people who were sheltering outside. 

Welcome Inn is expected to open their doors in the new year, adding from 20 to 40 more indoor beds. 

The lack of enhanced security support means most of the infrastructure that was added at Recreation Avenue has been removed this morning. The warming tents and storage facilities are also gone.

Interior Health removed the second tent that was added last week as a harm reduction tent. 

However, toilets, sharps disposal and garbage containers will remain at the sites and the fencing remain at Recreation Avenue. The sites will continue to be cleaned daily by a Parks Services contractor.

Both shelters, the one on Recreation Avenue and the one located by the base of Knox Mountain will continue to be open to those who’d like to set-up for the night, but take down times will be strictly enforced.