Homeless housing rejected

Photo: Colton Davies

BC Housing regional director Ann Howard speaking to council on Tuesday to begin a packed public hearing on a proposed supportive housing complex.

After a lengthy public hearing for a proposed 52-unit supportive housing complex in Penticton, mayor and council voted to send the plans back to the drawing board.

Council voted 5-1 to have city staff work with BC Housing on altering the current plan. Coun. Judy Sentes was the only vote to keep the plan as is, while Coun. Tarik Sayeed was absent.

The complex was proposed to be built at 179 Green Avenue, adjacent to the 45-unit Skaha Sunrise supportive housing complex on 2872 Skaha Lake Road. Council's approval was required to rezone the lot on Green Avenue.

The for-rent modular housing complex would've included two members staffed 24/7, counselling, an area for safe drug use and would've been specifically for homeless residents who need "support to maintain housing."

Preference would've been given to the homeless population living in Penticton and the South Okanagan. The homeless population in Penticton was last estimated to be 168, according to data presented by BC Housing — a stark rise from a count of 126 in 2016.

In the public hearing that lasted more than two hours, the largest concerns raised were the proximity to several schools and a "concentration of uses," with a 45-unit supportive housing complex already on site.

"Because of the mix of schools, residences and senior homes, it's maybe not conducive to the neighbourhood. Maybe something with that type of density needs a bigger site," Green Avenue resident Dennis Ebner said. Ebner was one of about 50 nearby residents who signed a petition asking council to consider the complex's impact on the neighbourhood.

Council members echoed concerns of the location — noting the complex would be close to schools and that there would be 97 supportive units "congregated" onto one lot if the new building were approved.

"We've gone to many conferences doing a lot of learning, and one of the things repeated to me is congregating these individuals onto one site is typically not what you want... and we're talking about doubling the number on one piece of property. That to me is counterintuitive," Coun. Max Picton said.

"There's a term for that, it's called a ghetto... It's not appropriate for our main street," he added.

"I don’t want them to pull this project from our community, we need this… but this is in a school zone, and I believe in drug-free school zones. And unfortunately, there’s going to be locations to be using drugs on this site," Coun. Helena Konanz pointed out.

Many supporters at the public hearing echoed a need for supportive housing in the midst a provincial housing crisis. Several members of non-profits in the community also spoke highly of the ASK Wellness Society — the organization that would've managed the proposed facility.

"It all starts with housing, you can't expect change if you don't have housing," one resident said, who noted she faced homelessness for one year as a teenager and now works for BC Housing.

The proposed supportive housing in Penticton was part of the province's plan to build 2,000 supportive housing units in B.C. Penticton council entered an agreement with the province in December to build a maximum of 52 units in the city. 

It's not clear when plans may be reintroduced for a similar housing complex.