Residents experiencing homelessness on Leon Avenue are unhappy about their new living situation after the city relocated them to two city parks yesterday.
According to new rules set out by the city, they are not allowed to stay the entire day and can only stay at the two sites between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Several people who stayed at the new camp set up by the Kelowna Curling Club, said they now have no where to go during the day to keep warm, which is worse than staying on Leon Avenue where could stay warm in their tents.
About 20 tents were set up in a ball diamond near Recreation Ave overnight after those experiencing homelessness were moved from Leon Ave on Tuesday.
91裸聊视频� Jen Zielinski (@Jen_zee)
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard when you91裸聊视频檙e homeless. I don91裸聊视频檛 know what I91裸聊视频檓 supposed to do with my stuff during the day. They gave us two bags to put our stuff in but if we don91裸聊视频檛 come back for one day, then they throw it out,91裸聊视频� said Stephen Simpson.
91裸聊视频淚 understand it91裸聊视频檚 not necessarily supposed to be their problem and it is a burden on society but homelessness isn91裸聊视频檛 something that91裸聊视频檚 going to go away and it91裸聊视频檚 not something that can just disappear.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of people don91裸聊视频檛 understand there91裸聊视频檚 reasons for homelessness. You lose family members that you can91裸聊视频檛 live without. People don91裸聊视频檛 realize the value of love and having a good family or having the things you need in life.91裸聊视频�
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Gerard Joyal with Journey Home said it91裸聊视频檚 difficult for the homeless to have to pack up everything and set it up day-after-day.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really challenging for people living without homes,91裸聊视频� said Joyal. 91裸聊视频淭his is a stop-gap, this is not a solution. I think that91裸聊视频檚 an important thing everybody needs to understand and remember that this is to alleviate some of the pressures, some of the hazards and some of the risks.91裸聊视频�
He added that Journey Home will hopefully have their mat program available soon. He also said they91裸聊视频檙e hoping to find a permanent location for more housing.
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READ MORE: Kelowna businesses fleeing Leon Avenue due to tent city
Mark Burley, the executive director for the Downtown Kelowna Assoication, said the decision to move the encampment is a step in the right direction, but not a long-term solution.
91裸聊视频淢ore than anything, we were worried about safety down there. The tents were butted up against each other. We had a fire Monday night 91裸聊视频� there was a fire in the middle of the night because someone had a heating element inside their tent. It could91裸聊视频檝e gone to other places,91裸聊视频� Burley said.
91裸聊视频淪o not to have them on Leon and to have tent residents in a place that91裸聊视频檚 safer for them, I think is a win situation but it91裸聊视频檚 certainly not an answer.91裸聊视频�
He added that they anticipate homeless residents will still be seen downtown throughout the day.
91裸聊视频淭hey will be going to the Kelowna Gospel Mission 91裸聊视频� people avail themselves of their services. So if anyone wants something to eat, a coffee, a shower and as normally did that when they lived on Leon, I don91裸聊视频檛 see why they might not come down and do it again.91裸聊视频�
After dismantling the encampment on Leon Avenue the city put up no camping and no sidewalk obstruction signs along the street to make sure tents don91裸聊视频檛 reappear.
About 20 tents were set up at the ball diamond on Recreation Avenue and there were no tents set up at the Knox Mountain Park area designated for those experiencing homelessness.
twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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