As many individuals of our community are well aware the People Place in Vernon have had an influx of homeless individuals camping both on the property of the People Place as well as directly across the path that is next to the building. the homeless population had resided in Polson Park for many years. Recently, complaints have been files to city council by members of the Vernon Community. City Council was quick to respond with time limits for residing in the park. We have been told by some homeless individuals that they have decided to reside here on Linear Park and area because they feel safe.
As staff of Independent Living Vernon and many other tenants within People Place, we understand why those homeless have decided to set up camp here. We also know they have no where to go. Scott Anderson’s comment of “we are neutering a bylaw” we find offensive and disrespectful. further he comments on the front page of this paper on September 20, 2017, that “many of these people are transients of elsewhere. Our responsibility is to the people of Vernon, not to the people who come form elsewhere.” We wonder why it would matter if someone just moved here and needed help with housing, that why they would not be treated with the same respect, dignity and responsibility from city council. These individuals are not only the most vunerable but also it seems the voiceless. We recognize many that have lived in Vernon for over a year. Some are working and have no housing. If we all knew their story maybe we would have a little more empathy. Would Scott Anderson fell the same way towards tourists? Remember housing makes it easier to vote.
The last week and a half, there has been an ongoing escalation of unsafe activity occurring in the area. We are experiencing verbal altercations and aggression directed towards staff of the People Place, neighbours that live adjacent, and consumers/clients. Most individuals living on the grounds are peaceful and for the most part keep to themselves. There is however, garbage left all around the buildings including drug paraphernalia and sharps. Feces and urine are constantly on the grounds as well as on the building. Apparent fentanyl overdose of a young man, increased police and by-law presence, for unfitting and criminal activities or behaviors. Staff, clients and consumers are feeling unsafe entering the building. As well, brazen drug use and the open sale of drugs in plain site.
People Place has over the years made various adjustments and changes to the building to ensure safety for everyone. Now we have been encouraged to put up no trespassing signs as well as temporary fencing surrounding the building, hire day security personnel, and cutdown various trees and bushes surrounding the building. Police and by-law presence has been effective and they have had a reasonable response time to our complaints. Unfortunately, we have experienced decreased public presence waling into our building accessing services due to the increased presence of the homeless population.
We hear time and time again that there is no easy fix to this. We know that it takes all three levels of government to respond (municipal, provincial, federal). We know that an immediate reduction would be both affordable and supportive housing. We have been through something similar when there was no shelter, Now the shelters are full. Without adequate housing, rehabilitation for people with addictions is futile. Housing is not the only solution but it is the first step. How about making this the priority.
Independent Living Vernon