Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Kelly Fehr
August 25, 2018 - 4:10 PM
VERNON - Vernon's Kelly Fehr is seeking a position on City Council in the October election.
A media release sent out today Aug. 25 says Fehr has a history in Vernon of being a “community champion” and that he is excited for the opportunity to continue this work in a new role.
Fehr serves as the Co-Executive Director of Turning Points Collaborative Society and has spent the last 11 years focused on housing, poverty and addictions recovery programs. Kelly Fehr’s collaborative approach with stakeholders have resulted in a number of achievements for Vernon. The release lists them as:
• Eleven million dollar provincial investment into the community to establish temporary and permanent supported housing. This investment also creates employment for 27 full time equivalent positions in 2018.
• The creation of a Sober Living Home (Haven Place) through fundraising. The home is designed to support people who completed addictions treatment. This was in 2017.
• Building strong relationships with philanthropists with a $650 thousand donation to create the Center for Community Collaboration in 2015, and a $240 thousand donation to create sober living in 2017
• Then $175 thousand annual Interior Health investment for supported recovery housing (Bill’s Place) in 2017.
“Community safety and sense of safety is essential to a healthy Vernon. It starts with supporting the RCMP and Bylaw in addressing criminal elements and is quickly followed by getting houseless constituents off the street and into housing,” Fehr is quoted in the release.
He also says, “Decisions must be grounded in best practice which is achieved through research. Council must take serious consideration into recommendations and fact based data provided by experts, this includes; city staff, BC Housing and the health authorities. We must build strong and productive relationships with the funding bodies that have jurisdiction over health and housing."
“The high cost of housing and low vacancy rates in Vernon have a substantial impact on recruiting and retaining employees for our business community and places low and middle income families in jeopardy. Healthy food and extracurricular activities for children quickly disappear when the majority of one’s income is allocated to housing. Council must make affordable housing a priority.”
“The issues around the lack of residential treatment options and affordable housing are not just political issues they are humane community issues. I will address each topic that comes before council with the same passion and commitment I exhibit in my current non-government role.”
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