FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 04, 2019
Bylaw Compliance Officers will operate out of Westbank Lions Community Centre, at 2466 Main Street, starting Wednesday, September 4, in an effort to keep West Kelowna’s downtown a vibrant and welcoming place to live, do business and access services and amenities.
“We’ve heard our community’s concerns and Council and I believe that this latest effort will go a long way to addressing many of the social and public safety issues that West Kelowna citizens have raised,” said Mayor Gord Milsom. “This is just the latest step – our efforts continue and more solutions are on the way.”
In order to move the Bylaw Compliance Office into Westbank Lions Community Centre, the City first assisted the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program find a new location. Once the Red Cross relocated four weeks ago, to their new building at Suite 4 - 2411 Drought Road, renovations began to convert the space into offices.
The City’s decision to move Bylaw Officers into the community centre was reinforced after hearing from residents and businesses during a town hall meeting on June 27.
“Our efforts must be a combination of enforcement and compassion,” said Milsom. “Like many communities across Canada, we are coping with complex social issues, not just homelessness, and we must ensure that public safety in downtown West Kelowna is paramount. At the same time however, we must continue to work with other governments and agencies to establish more supportive services and social housing to help people who are experiencing homelessness.”
To date, the City has worked with Westbank First Nation, BC Housing and other government and social agencies on a number of public health and social support initiatives including:
- Conducting a Point in Time Count to reach out to people experiencing homelessness to understand their struggles and needs;
- Creating a Situation Table to find services for people facing crisis;
- Establishing permanent security patrols downtown;
- Supporting the West Kelowna Shelter Society with service delivery at their location in the Westbank United Church; and,
- Meeting with Ministers and staff at BC Housing and the Health Ministry to advocate for more social and healthcare services and supportive housing and an Urgent Care Centre in West Kelowna.
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