Penticton City Hall
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
May 10, 2018 - 11:45 AM
PENTICTON - Plans for a new supported housing project will proceed to public hearing, but not without some reservations by council.
Some on council have expressed concern about results of the city’s attempts to provide housing for the homeless so far, saying the projects are shifting the homeless issue in Penticton to one of enabling rather than support for those in need.
The topic came up at council's meeting earlier this week when councillors were asked by staff to give first reading to a zoning amendment for a B.C. Housing project.
B.C. Housing plans to build a 52-unit modular social housing complex on two parcels of land at 179 Green Ave. and 2872 Skaha Lake Rd. using units manufactured at Penticton's Metric Modular facility. The city would be expected to contribute to the project through waiver of $109,000 in development cost charges.
One property currently contains Skaha Sunrise, a former motel converted to social housing eight years ago, and Unity House, which is a meeting place operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association. The new project would be built on the adjacent property fronting Green Avenue, which is currently vacant. Once completed there will be a total of 98 housing units on both properties, which are in close proximity to several other low income and supported housing projects.
City of Penticton planning manager Blake Laven noted a recent public open house conducted by B.C. Housing and Ask Wellness, operators of the project, saw a mixed response from around 45 people attending. He said while many understood the need for social housing, many also expressed anxieties over the location.
Coun. Campbell Watt said the location of the housing project doesn't sit well with him. He expressed fears the city was shifting from a position of support for the homeless to one of enabling, but said he would support the council recommendation in order to see it go to a public hearing.
Coun. Max Picton said a recent count pegged Penticton’s homeless at 92 people more than the previous year. He said it was becoming “easy to be homeless here,” as increasing support for the homeless in terms of meals and housing was being provided in the city.
“We’re funding these projects, and not seeing a reduction in numbers, it’s getting worse,” Picton said.
“I have serious concerns what we’re doing is making a difference,” he said, but also gave “reluctant support” to the staff recommendation.
Coun. Judy Sentes said she expected B.C. Housing representatives would attend the upcoming public hearing to explain where the homeless people were coming from.
Council approved first reading of the zoning amendment, sending it to a public hearing on May 22.
A conceptual rendering of proposed 52 unit supported housing complex planned for a Skaha Lake Road property.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2018