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The City of Penticton’s emergency social services department is strained and overworked, council heard Tuesday.
Councillors approved a grant application to the Union of BC Municipalities to fund enhancements to the local reception centre, volunteer training and recruitment.
ESS provides short-term housing and other support to those left homeless by fire, flood or other disaster.
Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster says while ESS typically supports mostly Penticton residents — like the victims of the Highland Motel fire — last summer saw the local reception centre opened to help wildfire evacuees of Williams Lake.
“We were scrambling a bit to find the number of beds that we needed. We did succeed, but it definitely identified those areas for improvement,” he said. “The program has grown over the years, and especially in the last two years. There has been a greater expectation from EMBC for larger scale events.”
Coun. Judy Sentes noted that increased wildfire activity “could be the new normal,” and Penticton needs to be ready to deal with it.
The application for the $25,000 grant will cost the city a maximum of $2,500 in staff time.
