A once tranquil Vernon park that has since morphed into 91裸聊视频渟kid row91裸聊视频� has left neighbours living in fear, feeling like prisoners in their own home.
The 25th Avenue Linear Park in recent weeks has become home to the homeless.
Shopping carts heaped with items, tents and tarps tied to trees, people lying lifeless on the grass, garbage and drug paraphernalia strewn about. On top of this 91裸聊视频渆yesore91裸聊视频� next to the People Place, neighbours to the latest homeless camp say what happens, particularly when night falls, is often unimaginable.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e seen a lot of stuff the last six weeks,91裸聊视频� said Irene Carter, speaking out for a family member who lives in the area and fears for her safety.
Ladies of the night, daytime drug use in front of children, fighting and theft are a sampling of daily activities in the area.
91裸聊视频淭here are some who get themselves really spun out and you never know what91裸聊视频檚 going to happen.91裸聊视频�
Neighbour Don (who also feared being named and possible backlash) adds: 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really, really frustrating.91裸聊视频�
Don won91裸聊视频檛 walk down the Linear Park pathway anymore out of fear, but his frustration is rising as some of these individuals continue to disrespect the area.
91裸聊视频淭hey were crapping by my door (of vehicle) and had a roll of toilet paper sitting on my wheel.
91裸聊视频淭hese people aren91裸聊视频檛 homeless because they91裸聊视频檝e been forced on the street,91裸聊视频� said Don, adding it91裸聊视频檚 due to lifestyle choices. He too is on disability and says you are allowed to earn a certain amount while collecting assistance, and that, he says, is the difference between him and those in Linear Park.
91裸聊视频淓very person I talk to feels the same as I do91裸聊视频he homeless are abusing them.91裸聊视频�
But James Auger lives in a nearby apartment and says these people can91裸聊视频檛 afford the $1,000 a month rent that most units cost.
91裸聊视频淭he rent in Vernon is off the charts,91裸聊视频� said Auger. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of working people that are one or two pay cheques from falling off the edge.91裸聊视频�
Meanwhile 34-year-old Teresa Williams, who has been staying at the camp for the past five nights, says not everyone fits the stereotypical description that is being given to them.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 always one bad apple. Yes there91裸聊视频檚 some people who don91裸聊视频檛 know how to control themselves,91裸聊视频� said the former Clarence Fulton student who was living in an RV with her husband on Old Kamloops Road until it had to be moved and is desperate to find a place to move it but most campsites say it91裸聊视频檚 too old, or won91裸聊视频檛 let her stay because she is on income assistance.
Despite having a diploma in business, Williams lacks work experience, which she says is why no one will hire her. Having grown up with a family on income assistance her whole life, she doesn91裸聊视频檛 know any different, and tears swell in her eyes as she explains how she can91裸聊视频檛 even remember what it91裸聊视频檚 like to have a home.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been dealing with this on and off for 15 years,91裸聊视频� said Williams, who now has a multitude of health problems and battles a drug addiction.
Williams estimates she is one of between a dozen and a half to two dozen people who are sleeping in Linear Park.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 not including those on the edge of Polson Park, behind London Drugs or other places. They are scattered throughout Vernon.91裸聊视频�
And like her, a lot of them are locals, Williams says, despite what some people assume.
Carter and Williams actually know each other from years past, as the now homeless woman has lived in Vernon for 18 years.
And they both agree that something needs to be done.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 not enough beds in the shelter,91裸聊视频� said Williams. 91裸聊视频淭he transition house is usually full due to domestic violence, they opened up a mat program but that only has 10 beds so what do you do when it91裸聊视频檚 all full?91裸聊视频�
Williams says there have been talks about a safe injection site, but many in the community don91裸聊视频檛 want it. She says it91裸聊视频檚 a great idea to move the problem out from the open, and away from young, innocent eyes.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 enough abandoned buildings in Vernon, just use one of those.
91裸聊视频淚f the city got together with us we could all come together and find a solution.91裸聊视频�
Carter says there is an urgent need to at least find more beds, as temperatures are now dropping below freezing at night.
91裸聊视频淭hey need to do it soon because it91裸聊视频檚 starting to get cold.91裸聊视频�
In the meantime, Vernon resident Alan McMahon says portable outhouses at least need to be provided.
91裸聊视频淟et91裸聊视频檚 see if we can91裸聊视频檛 start treating them like human beings,91裸聊视频� said McMahon.
Williams agrees and thanks those that have opened their hearts to those shivering in the park.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e actually had people bring down food, clothes.91裸聊视频�
