The need for an adequate and safe space for the homeless to store their personal belongings will hopefully be fulfilled by the Vernon Upper Room Mission.
Rick Lavin, executive director, and Lisa Anderson, director of resource development, recently visited another local non-profit – Kelowna Gospel Mission – to learn more about their new storage units.
“We were very impressed with the Gospel Mission’s storage sheds and the service it provides to Kelowna’s impoverished citizens.” said Anderson.
The Kelowna Gospel Mission partnered with the City of Kelowna and B.C. Housing to construct 12 small sheds that the homeless could use to store their carts and belongings.
“With recent homeless camps being decommissioned, we have seen an increase in the number of people turning up at the Mission with all of their belongings, and nowhere to store it,” said Anderson. “At one point our basement, which is also our women’s drop-in centre, was full of people’s personal belongings.
“We wanted to accommodate everyone, but we just did not have the space to do so.” Says Anderson.
It was City of Vernon manager of protective services, Clint Kanester, who shared that the new sheds being offered in Kelowna are working well. Kelowna Bylaw has noticed a decrease in the number of carts and belongings on Leon Avenue, which in the past was receiving complaints from downtown residents.
“We see the need, and are working on a similar program for Vernon,” said Anderson. “Before we go ahead with the sheds, we would first like to meet with city and bylaw officials, as well as the Downtown Vernon Association, to go over our plans, and see if they have any input or ideas.”
The Upper Room Mission recently received a one-time donation from Vernon council in the amount of $3,402 from their “Food for Fines” campaign back in December, as well as $1,460 from the city’s employees’ “Jeans Day” program.
“Our plan is to use the donated monies we acquired from the city to purchase and set up storage sheds so Vernon’s street-entrenched population has a place to keep their personal belongings, free of charge,” said Anderson.
“The hope is to provide more freedom for our guests, and take away the stressor of having to literally ‘carry your house on your back,’ which some people are forced to do.”
The storage units would also offer a secure place for individuals that are sleeping outside to store their belongings. The hope is that giving them a safe place to store their personal property for an extended period of time will encourage them to come out of the cold and access the Extreme Weather Response Program (Mat Program).
Other benefits would include a place for individuals to store their belongings when they need to attend meetings or perhaps a doctor’s appointment.
The storage units will hopefully be another touch point for people who might not be accessing the Upper Room Mission’s services.
The Mission is still sourcing out the units, and the hope is to have them up and available as soon as possible.