While some shopkeepers are concerned about crime in Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 downtown, one store owner says she91裸聊视频檚 found little to complain about.

Linda Smith has owned and operated The Water Garden Boutique on Ellis Street for the last 20 years. During that time period, she91裸聊视频檚 had very little problems with crime and wants to address the fear around the homeless in the downtown area.

91裸聊视频淭he area around us has grown up in such an amazing way; we have restaurants, we have fun bars, we have a lot more shopping and along with that there has definitely been a (change). There are more homeless people, and I think there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of fear that91裸聊视频檚 just unfounded,91裸聊视频� Smith said.

Smith said that she91裸聊视频檚 had little issues with the city91裸聊视频檚 homeless population and pointed out that there have been times where she91裸聊视频檚 been extended a helping hand.

RELATED: West Kelowna homeless out in the cold after shelter runs at max capacity

91裸聊视频淚 was out at the dumpster and I had my hands full and it was near an alley and I91裸聊视频檓 not afraid to go out there at all, and the guy said 91裸聊视频榣et me help you with that,91裸聊视频� and opened the lid for me,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e just people and there91裸聊视频檚 so much fear and I don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 necessarily appropriate.91裸聊视频�

Smith91裸聊视频檚 shop was broken into eight years ago, but she91裸聊视频檚 had little issues otherwise.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e never been threatened, my staff and I work alone here 90 per cent of the time and (we91裸聊视频檝e been) fine,91裸聊视频� she said.

She91裸聊视频檚 in favour of Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 supportive housing project.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of people that need housing, and the first thing we can do to help them is put a roof over their head,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 mean it91裸聊视频檚 where we91裸聊视频檙e at in our society, we can91裸聊视频檛 just push it under the rug and say 91裸聊视频檔ot in my backyard.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淔or people to be afraid to come to downtown is going to make matters worse.91裸聊视频�

Over the past seven months, the city has been collaborating with BC Housing and non-profits in the community to house Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 homeless as part of its Journey Home Housing initiative.

Recently, a new supportive housing project, Heath House, opened on Harvey Avenue North near Leathhead Road which houses 50 formerly homeless people. It is operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

READ MORE: Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 newest supportive housing project opens

Hearthstone, another housing project located on Commerce Avenue which opened in October, and Heath House are both BC Housing projects.

Another housing initiative, approved by council in January for Agassiz Road, was met with controversy as some residents in the area were concerned about drug use. The project will provide 52 units for homeless people.

In July, Vancouver Career College cut its courses and moved from its location on Pandosy Avenue in January, citing the homeless shelter across the street was causing concern for its students91裸聊视频� safety.

However, Lance Kayfish, director of community safety with the City of Kelowna, said work needs to be done to address the stigma around homelessness.

Housing first projects have an advantage over shelters, as they allow individuals to have their own space, which gives them a sense of security and allows them to take pride in something, he said.

It91裸聊视频檚 often difficult for people to better themselves in a shelter setting when they91裸聊视频檙e concerned about day-to-day activities while battling mental health issues, personal issues or other challenges, Kayfish said.

91裸聊视频淗ow does a person who is dealing with opioid addiction that wants to overcome that, how do they start to rise to that challenge when they don91裸聊视频檛 even know when they want to brush their teeth in the morning?91裸聊视频� he said.

In November, a report was released by retired RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon, who was asked to look at ways the city could address downtown crime.

The report outlined the Journey Home Housing strategy, as well as other 91裸聊视频渜uick fixes91裸聊视频� such as more sidewalk cleaning, more garage bins downtown, portable toilets and reviewing the city91裸聊视频檚 needle pick-up program.

Repeating a line he used in the past, the former 40-year police officer said the city will not 91裸聊视频渁rrest its way out of the problem.91裸聊视频�

Kayfish said with the number of shelter beds concentrated in the downtown core, there have been unintended consequences.

RELATED: Nearly 8,000 homeless in B.C., first province-wide count reveals

He said they also haven91裸聊视频檛 seen a spike in crime around the Commerce Avenue housing complex, which has 46 units.

The aim of the Journey Home initiative is to have supportive housing units throughout the city, Kayfish said.

91裸聊视频淭hings aren91裸聊视频檛 perfect, part of the work that needs to be done is building understanding and addressing stigma because somebody is homeless and looks like they91裸聊视频檙e homeless doesn91裸聊视频檛 mean they91裸聊视频檙e threatening,91裸聊视频� he said.

There are a number of contributing factors that lead to homelessness in the city, which he pointed out is not a Kelowna-centric concern.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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