The opening of a temporary housing site for people experiencing homelessness on Appaloosa Road is still not sitting well with neighbours and other residents who live near similar facilities.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon joined Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas and other dignitaries for the opening of 60 tiny homes at Balsam Place at 3199 Appaloosa Rd. on Friday (June 6).
香蕉视频直播淚t is about people,香蕉视频直播� the mayor noted in his remarks. 香蕉视频直播淚t is about families reunited, it is about second chances made possible, and a healthier, safer community for everyone.香蕉视频直播�
The mayor added that homelessness, mental health, addictions, and community safety are complex, interconnected challenges, and no single government working on its own can solve these issues.
香蕉视频直播淚t takes collaboration, strong partnerships, vision, and a will to do things differently香蕉视频直播攁nd above all, bold action,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Minister Kahlon acknowledged that many people are finding it a challenge to access housing, and that those in the lower income brackets are being pushed further down.
香蕉视频直播淚n no way do I ever want to discount concerns that individuals have in their neighbourhoods,香蕉视频直播� Kahlon said. 香蕉视频直播淚 understand people want to live in healthy, safe communities, and I know that some of those same individuals want the best for some of the vulnerable people. But we have to find a way to work that out, and we're continuously trying to improve.香蕉视频直播�
Outside the fenced-off complex, about half a dozen residents listened to what the mayor and Kahlon had to say.
香蕉视频直播淢y kids don't want to walk the street,香蕉视频直播� said Mike Johnson, who lives just up the road from the complex. 香蕉视频直播淪ix months ago, we were in a shoe store and they were attacked by a homeless man香蕉视频直播攊n a shoe store. Luckily, I was there to stand up for them.香蕉视频直播�
Johnson said the neighbourhood didn香蕉视频直播檛 have much warning when construction began on the facility last year. He said there was initially little response from city and provincial officials regarding residents香蕉视频直播� concerns.
香蕉视频直播淲hen we approached them, they just blanked us all and avoided it until Dyas and the facility downtown (temporary housing site on Crowley Avenue) gave us an invite to come and sit down,香蕉视频直播� Johnson said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don't want a tour香蕉视频直播擨 just want answers. Our community wants answers.香蕉视频直播�
Leanne Nowell, who lives near Samuel Place香蕉视频直播攁 supportive housing complex on McIntosh Road in Rutland香蕉视频直播攈as had similar experiences, including a frightening confrontation with a resident of the building.
香蕉视频直播淚 had a neighbour that heard me screaming, and he came out and he went after him香蕉视频直播攖hat was about four months ago,香蕉视频直播� Nowell said. 香蕉视频直播淚 walk my dog with bear spray, a little knife, and a police-grade flashlight.香蕉视频直播�
Nowell said she called RCMP more than 100 times last year for help in the neighbourhood.
Media questions also focused on Stephen Village, another supportive housing project on Agassiz Road in the Landmark District. Residents living near that building have petitioned the city to change its operational model to a dry facility香蕉视频直播攑rohibiting the consumption of alcohol and drugs on site. Neighbours have also provided video footage showing drug use and indecent acts around the facility.
Dyas addressed those concerns in August 2024, participating in an RCMP ride-along and walking through the neighbourhood.
香蕉视频直播淲e're not going to be able to resolve everything exactly the way that they want it,香蕉视频直播� Dyas said at today's event. 香蕉视频直播淏ut we know that it's a concerted effort that we're doing continuously to try to make a difference. We're fighting a little bit of a headwind in certain things, but it's initiatives like this (supportive housing) that truly make a difference in fighting that headwind because we are seeing success.香蕉视频直播�
Tyler Zeeman, who lives near Stephen Village, was not convinced by the mayor香蕉视频直播檚 comments.
香蕉视频直播淭here was a woman teeing off on a guy with a golf club two days ago. It took the police three hours to come. The city doesn't care,香蕉视频直播� Zeeman said. 香蕉视频直播淚t took Tom (Dyas) months of me publicly calling him out in the news for him to agree to meet with us. And he finally did it香蕉视频直播攁nd it was pointless. They put up a camera. What's the camera gonna do?香蕉视频直播�
Zeeman, Nowell, and Johnson said they want council to advocate for taxpaying citizens and believe these types of facilities aren't working.
香蕉视频直播淪tep up and speak to the province and fight for the taxpayers,香蕉视频直播� Zeeman added. 香蕉视频直播淭hese need to be dry facilities.香蕉视频直播�
In his comments, the mayor noted that there is still more the city needs to do in supporting people experiencing homelessness.
香蕉视频直播淲e're not done,香蕉视频直播� Dyas said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd anything that the neighbours speak to with regards to it, we hear them. We also recognize that there are some changes that need to be made香蕉视频直播攑otentially on a federal level with regards to some repeat offender laws香蕉视频直播攚hich are going to definitely help us too.香蕉视频直播�
The Appaloosa Rd. facility is the third temporary housing project in the city. Step Place on Crowley Avenue and Trailside Housing along Highway 97 North both opened in 2024. Each project provided 60 tiny homes.
香蕉视频直播淚n just over a year since the opening of Step Place and Trailside, 66 people have already transitioned from these sites into different forms of housing,香蕉视频直播� the mayor said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd hundreds of residents香蕉视频直播� goals have been achieved香蕉视频直播攆rom connecting to mental health and addiction supports to finding full-time employment and taking meaningful steps forward in rebuilding their lives.香蕉视频直播�
Balsam Place homes include a private entrance, bed, desk, mini fridge, heating and air conditioning, and storage space. The site also provides shared areas for dining, lounging, and laundry, as well as access to overdose-prevention services, care professionals, and support and safety services such as life-skills programming and support-group referrals. There are multiple safety features to maintain resident safety, including security cameras and controlled access gates.
Connective, a non-profit housing operator, will manage day-to-day operations.
