From the Campbell River Mirror
The City of Campbell River is making some temporary changes to where overnight sheltering can legally take place as it works to open a new homeless sheltering site.
Earlier this year, the city announced that it was working with the province to build a 40-unit supportive housing site called HEARTH Village at 1299 Homewood Rd.
The site was chosen because it was already approved for overnight sheltering. But while the new facility is being set up, the city has temporarily allowed overnight sheltering at several new locations so that people have a legal place to camp while construction is underway.
“As the Province legally requires local governments to provide temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness, Council reviewed over a dozen City-owned options,” said Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl in a release Friday.
“The final locations were selected as they balance community safety considerations,” he said.
Temporary overnight sheltering is now permitted year-round outside city hall and along a section of 900 Alder Street. Additionally, overnight sheltering will be allowed at 945 Island Hwy. and at Robert Ostler Park from Nov. 1 to March 31.
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The city says having a limited number of areas where shelters can be set up will make it easier for vulnerable people to know where they are allowed to stay, and for bylaw officers and police to patrol.
“Being close to municipal buildings like City Hall shows our willingness to walk our talk,” said Dahl. “We tried to limit exposure to commercial and residential areas as much as possible, and we will manage these new locations in a way that enhances community safety for all.”
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The municipality says it’s planning “strategic enhancement of enforcement” of these areas, with an eye towards making them available for everyone’s use during daytime hours.
Bylaw officers, contract security and RCMP will monitor the areas daily, according to Campbell River.
The city notes that in 2023, the Point-in-Time homeless count identified 197 peopleas being homeless, a 66 per cent increase from the previous count in 2021.
“We will also continue to work with and lobby other levels of government for the additional support we need to address homelessness in Campbell River,” said the mayor.
READ MORE: 40 unit ‘village’ for homeless will help ‘reduce challenges’ in Campbell River: mayor
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