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Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
December 02, 2022 - 9:00 AM
The City of Kelowna's announcement yesterday that a warming bus would begin operating immediately doesn’t go anywhere near filling the need on city streets.
The bus has 24 seats, which will accommodate only about one-third of the people camping at the city’s overnight campground. There are 60 to 65 people, on average, camped there every night but that only accounts for about half the people sleeping rough in Kelowna right now.
The bus is designed to serve people at the camping site, leaving the rest to fend for themselves.
READ MORE: Warming bus new stop-gap measure to help homeless during Kelowna cold snap
“There are multiple efforts being made to connect people who are currently experiencing unsheltered homelessness to alternatives – whether that is shelter space in community or other natural supports those individuals have,” Malcolm Evans, system planner for the Journey Home Society, told iNFOnews.ca.
“If there are no other options, agencies are ensuring that they have access to cold weather supplies, so tents, sleeping bags and other life-saving supplies like warm clothes, food, water, etc.”
While the outdoor camping area is the only one being recommended for camping, Evans recognizes that not everyone is willing to go there.
Agencies in the city are stretched to the limit so, other than the existing shelters, there are no other options.
The Bay Avenue shelter run by the Gospel Mission now has enough staff to provide shelter for 50 people but is still 10 shy of its capacity.
"There is a significant need in our community,” Evans said. “We have a sector that is stretched thin and is doing everything it can to support the most vulnerable people in our community but the fact remains we don’t have a sufficient volume of services to meet the need."
The mercury dipped to -11 Celsius overnight and daytime highs through the weekend are expected to be around -10 C with overnight lows ranging from -12 C to -17 C.
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