Concerns grow over increase of people and garbage outside Kelowna’s safe consumption site – Okanagan | 24CA News

People, tents and a complete lot of rubbish surrounded the secure drug consumption website in downtown Kelowna Monday morning.

“It’s a regular occurrence,” mentioned Steve Harvey, proprietor of Business Finders Canada throughout the road.

The consumption website, which is situated on Pandosy Street at Leon Avenue, opened its doorways within the spring of 2021. But in current months, extra folks experiencing homelessness and habit have been congregating exterior the clinic.

That has resulted in additional rubbish within the space as properly.

“I can’t operate my business that way,” mentioned Harvey. “If I had that kind of mess, or if I had people in front of my business on a daily basis, I can be sure that the city would be coming down on me very, very harsh.”

The City of Kelowna has what it calls the Good Neighbour Bylaw however Harvey thinks it needs to be higher enforced.

“Interior Health owns that building. They’re responsible for, you know, for them to be a good neighbour, in my opinion, and many of the businesses around here believe that as well,” Harvey mentioned. “I’m not sure why the good neighbour policy isn’t applicable to that location.”

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In an e mail to Global News, Interior Health’s Danielle Cameron, government director of medical operations for Central Okanagan, mentioned “Interior Health is committed to being a good neighbour and we are doing everything we can, with the tools that we have, to prevent the congregation of individuals on the property outside the clinic on Pandosy Street.”

Calling it a difficult state of affairs, Cameron added that “Interior Health is working with the City of Kelowna Bylaw, RCMP and other partners to improve the conditions of people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna, and reduce congregation on the streets.”

Cameron additionally said, “A collective effort from the community and other agencies is needed to provide alternate spaces for people to go during the day and to sleep at night – Interior Health’s top priority is to ensure individuals have access to health services and supports.”

The City of Kelowna mentioned there are a whole lot of assets devoted to conserving the realm clear.

“As far as the city is concerned, we do work with Interior Health and with the RCMP and other city departments to try to maintain that site as best as possible,” mentioned Kevin Mead, bylaw companies supervisor for the City of Kelowna.

Mead mentioned that features clean-ups each day.

“Typically we pull through in the early hours of the morning just to get an assessment of where the need is greatest around the city,” Mead instructed Global News. “We try to prioritize those needs for the entirety of our community but typically, we do tend to that site between late morning and early afternoon.”

Harvey mentioned it’s a really irritating state of affairs, particularly as a result of there isn’t a finish in sight.

“I can’t imagine the resources that the city is spending just on this block on a daily basis,” Harvey mentioned.

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