A latest survey exhibits crime is rising in Downtown Kelowna and native retailer house owners elevating considerations in regards to the improve.
It was performed by enterprise house owners who work closest to Inside Well being’s Outreach City Well being Centre and distributed by the Downtown Kelowna Affiliation. The companies attribute the surge to the opening of that facility.
“With all these individuals congregated in a single space, there was a perceived drug problem and so they wished to seek out out if that was really certainly what was occurring and what was occurring to different companies within the space,” mentioned Downtown Kelowna Affiliation govt director Mark Burley.
The survey was performed in February and Burley says he has observed there have been enhancements within the space since that point.
Learn extra:
Kelowna enterprise survey on impression of outreach centre attracts response from mayor
The objective of the report is to finally convey the report ahead to metropolis officers and Inside Well being (IH) to indicate precisely what enterprise house owners are coping with every day.
“All these items that we’ve been saying all alongside are occurring. Let’s all get collectively and sit on the similar desk and attempt to provide you with some issues that can assist the state of affairs,” Burley mentioned.
The well being authority says they’re listening to companies downtown and are working with the town, bylaw enforcement officers and police.
“We share the considerations of our neighbours round people who find themselves sheltering outdoor and surrounding each on the clinic in addition to the neighbourhood surrounding the clinic. In working with the town and the RCMP we’ve seen some good outcomes,” mentioned Danielle Cameron, govt director of medical operations neighborhood.
In its present location, the IH facility serves extra individuals than it has lately and with the intention to present correct care the centre will keep at its present deal with.
“In 2021 we did transfer into a bigger location and co-located some providers which really in our expertise and the expertise of the sufferers and the folks that entry the clinic has been an important addition to the providers obtainable for the inhabitants that wants it,” mentioned Cameron.
Cameron says in entrance of the well being centre isn’t the one place there are extra unhoused individuals, as it’s a rising pattern in Kelowna.
“I feel we’re seeing the variety of individuals sheltering outdoor growing all through our metropolis. In that neighbourhood but in addition in different areas of the neighborhood,” she mentioned.
Final week, Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas launched a press release in response to the survey. Nonetheless, the mayor was not obtainable for additional remark Tuesday, however a press release was issued on his behalf.
“(Dyas) is taking time now to assessment the outcomes and has plans to satisfy quickly with different concerned businesses, comparable to Inside Well being, as a result of he understands the significance of the difficulty and is dedicated to creating progress on the considerations of enterprise house owners and staff downtown,” learn the assertion.
The Downtown Kelowna Affiliation says this survey amplifies what they’ve additionally been listening to from enterprise house owners and the affiliation is prepared for a change.
“It’s a difficulty that must be handled and within the 4 and a half years that I’ve been on this job, it actually hasn’t modified loads. It simply appears there’s extra of it,” Burley mentioned.
© 2023 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.