Homelessness in Kelowna has tripled since last year and additional resources are required, said Kevin Mead, Manager of Bylaw Services.

Attention has been drawn to the rapidly expanding city-maintained encampment along the Rail Trail, off Richter Street.

On Oct. 20, the weekly cleaning of 乌鸦传媒楾ent City乌鸦传媒� required the use of a backhoe, a dump truck, and approximately 20 RCMP and bylaw officers.

Each morning at 9a.m. residents of the encampment are required to pack up their belongings and vacate the site. On Thursdays the site is grated and the gravel is raked clean.

Mead told Capital News that he has seen a 乌鸦传媒渄ramatic increase乌鸦传媒� in the number of people experiencing un-sheltered homelessness across the city, for reasons that are 乌鸦传媒渂eyond the municipality乌鸦传媒檚乌鸦传媒檚 control.乌鸦传媒�

Carmen Rempel, Executive Director of Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Gospel Mission said that 乌鸦传媒渉omelessness is a symptom of many different societal issues,乌鸦传媒� including trauma, substance use and poverty that needs to be addressed on a national, provincial and municipal level.

To help the un-housed, a new shelter has been opened on Bay Avenue, but due to a staffing shortage it is only able to operate at half capacity.

Rempel, said that the new shelter has the ability to house 60 people and hopes that it will be fully operational before the snow falls.

She explained that shelter is the first step to help people out of homelessness.

Rempel said that the city has an acute need for more shelter and housing options.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not easy, and it乌鸦传媒檚 not cheap, but it is simple,乌鸦传媒� said Rempel.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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