Solving the problem of homelessness in Kelowna 91裸聊视频� if even achievable 91裸聊视频� is a long-term project.

But tackling the issue and showing initial results is something that can be done with more immediacy.

While some will argue the city91裸聊视频檚 five-year Journey Home initiative, aimed at addressing homelessness in Kelowna, has already shown early signs of success with a sharp increase in social housing in recent years, others point to a growing tent city along the lower black of Leon Avenue downtown as proof not enough is being done.

For some, the promised results of Journey Home are not coming fast enough.

Earlier this week a group called the Alliance Against Displacement came to town to publicly call for more help for those living on the street in Kelowna.

During a gathering with the media, the group91裸聊视频檚 spokeswoman listed four demands, including more housing, no unlawful searches of the tents many homeless use for shelter, street-side electric outlets so the homeless can heat their tents safely and more respect from the police.

While the protest was dismissed as a 91裸聊视频渇rustrating distraction91裸聊视频� by Journey Home officials, it highlighted a growing perception by many that the process currently being used is not providing results to help people on the street now.

Journey Home is a multi-pronged approach based on the 91裸聊视频渉ousing first91裸聊视频� model that has been shown to work 91裸聊视频� get people who need housing into their own place first and then get them the services they need and there91裸聊视频檚 a better chance of success in the end.

But creating new housing takes time, and there is a cost.

Kelowna has fared remarkably well when it comes to the amount of social housing provided by the province in recent years. But every development has been met with opposition, particularly from perspective neighbours.

And, as was pointed out by many at the protest earlier this week, supportive housing alone is not the only answer. They want to see more housing options, especially as winter is just around the corner.

Given recent local history, and the current climbing property prices, finding more shelter space in Kelowna will be difficult short of the city buying buildings to create it.

In From The Cold, a long-time shelter in the city looked for a year to replace its building when it was forced out due to redevelopment and was unsuccessful. The shelter91裸聊视频檚 closure just added to the ongoing problem.

In the end, the Alliance Against Displacement protest did not tell the city anything its residents 91裸聊视频� both those with homes and those without 91裸聊视频� didn91裸聊视频檛 already know.

Kelowna has a problem and despite the work being done to alleviate it in the long-term, in the short-term it91裸聊视频檚 getting worse.

It91裸聊视频檚 not an abstract issue. Lives are literally at stake.

The aim of Journey Home is good and the people working to make it a success are genuinely doing their best. But short-term solutions need to found just as much as long-term ones.

The city prides itself in what it does for the betterment of those who live in Kelowna 91裸聊视频� particularly those who have. It needs to also show it can help those who don91裸聊视频檛 have.

Alistair Waters is a regional editor with Black Press in Kelowna.