As West Shore residents gathered to raise their concerns of the tent cityB次元官网网址檚 latest location in Goldstream Provincial Park, mayor Stew Young once again said he has reached out to the province for help.
Arjun Singh, the president of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and a councillor in Kamloops, said homelessness is not an easy problem for local governments to handle on their own.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a tricky one for local governments because we are not in the legislative business of providing housing. WeB次元官网网址檙e not funded that way in terms of our taxes,B次元官网网址� Singh said.
Instead, he said municipalities can work with the provincial government to facilitate supportive housing, shelters and conversations with stakeholders at much as possible.
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B次元官网网址淓very community will do that in different ways,B次元官网网址� Singh said. B次元官网网址淪ome will provide faster permitting, some will provide land B次元官网网址� I think the key point is itB次元官网网址檚 very challenging for us to take on the whole job. WeB次元官网网址檙e just not funded that way. WeB次元官网网址檙e working with the province to help facilitate, but not take on the whole funding for housing.B次元官网网址�
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He added that while supportive housing is a provincial effort, itB次元官网网址檚 the local governments who hear everyday concerns firsthand.
B次元官网网址淭ent cities are very difficult situations,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all concerned about people in them and people around them.B次元官网网址�
What should happen while people are waiting for housing units to be ready is B次元官网网址渁 heartbreaking question,B次元官网网址� Singh said.
B次元官网网址淲e are in a place now, I think, where thereB次元官网网址檚 a greater awareness of folks who are on the street and are living homeless. ItB次元官网网址檚 very bad we have that situation in our province. ItB次元官网网址檚 better in terms of the opportunity to get more housing online than itB次元官网网址檚 ever beenB次元官网网址� The bad news is we have tent cities, and the good news is we have in the last couple of years seen an unprecedented effort from all levels of government to approve housing as soon as we can get them on stream.
B次元官网网址淗elp is on the way, but itB次元官网网址檚 obviously a cold comfort for some folks who are still in those situations or around those situations.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: Langford mayor upset with province over homeless camp
