Several residents took to Kelowna City Hall to demostrate, once again.
This time, locals gathered to support those who are currently experiencing homelessness.
Local broadcaster Lisa Redl spoke at the rally.
91裸聊视频淲e have to find a solution right now,91裸聊视频� Redl said. 91裸聊视频淩egardless of what the city is doing, we have to figure out how to get these people warm right now.91裸聊视频�
Last week the City of Kelowna relocated those camping on Leon Avenue to two parks at the north-end of downtown.
According to new rules set out by the city, those camped in the new locations are not allowed to stay the entire day and can only stay at the two sites between 7 p.m. and 9 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 they could stay warm in their tents.
Redl stated that those camped at Recreation Avenue are demanding additional warming tents be brought to the area to give them a warm place to sleep.
91裸聊视频淚 get that there are regulations, but these are human beings too. These are somebody91裸聊视频檚 son, somebody91裸聊视频檚 daughter,91裸聊视频� she said.
READ MORE: Kelowna homelessness count shows more people without shelter
READ MORE: Province plans to open shelter for West Kelowna homeless in 2020
Others attending the rally have experienced homelessness in the past and came to show their support.
91裸聊视频淲e were also homeless91裸聊视频� and this is just inhumane. I was at the camp this morning handing out breakfast. Sometimes, it91裸聊视频檚 as easy as that,91裸聊视频� one said.
Another mentioned how easily people can fall through the cracks and end up on the streets.
91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 pay your rent once and you get evicted quickly, and that91裸聊视频檚 what we91裸聊视频檙e seeing here. We91裸聊视频檝e elected a mayor who ran on a pro-helping the homeless on a Journey Home strategy against someone who had a tough love approach. He won basically on that and we91裸聊视频檙e just not seeing action,91裸聊视频� another resident said.
Resident Gail Hodgson said, the city should consider the issue as an emergency.
91裸聊视频淭he city has procedures for emergencies like when there91裸聊视频檚 forest fires - they open up buildings with cots, water, supplies. This is an emergency too,91裸聊视频� Hodgson said.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檇 like to see a building opened up to these people. They91裸聊视频檙e suffering already and I91裸聊视频檝e had enough.91裸聊视频�
She said she also understood how Knox Mountain neighbourhood residents would be unhappy with having those experiencing homelessness sheltering in a popular park.
91裸聊视频淚 feel sorry for them as well. If I lived there and that happened near me and I had kids, and what with some of the homeless folk having addiction and the potential dangers, I feel sorry for them too. It91裸聊视频檚 a terrible situation for everybody.91裸聊视频�
But, she pointed out that if the city could put security measures for an outdoor camp, they can do that in an indoor setting too.
91裸聊视频淲hat the city has done is put up that camp at Recreation (Avenue) and they91裸聊视频檙e manning it with security. Well, can they do that in a building?91裸聊视频�
In all, Redl said the gathering at city hall wasn91裸聊视频檛 meant to be a protest, but a call out and a challenge for the city to act soon before weather conditions get worse.
READ MORE: Knox Mountain, north end Kelowna residents gather to petition city over homeless camp relocation
READ MORE: Knox Mountain residents hold protest over homeless camp move
twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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