Sign the petition to prevent the BC Housing from building another shelter in lower Peterson Creek Park.
The Glenfair Seniors Residences behind Royal Inland Hospital have long been a peaceful and wholesome place for some of our most vulnerable residents. They are also long overdue for renovation and redevelopment. The consultation for the redevelopment of the Glenfair seniors residences has been taking place over the past few years and a lot of consideration has gone into caring for the current residents. (Castanet article)
BC Housing and the City of Kamloops have quietly added a 4th project to the redevelopment of the Glenfair Seniors Residences. They want to fast track a 40 bed year round shelter to be constructed in the P4 zoned area of the park aka 1055 Glenfair Dr.
This shelter will be run by the Mustard Seed which is the same organization that runs the winter shelter in the Kamloops Yacht Club and the shelter in the West Victoria Corridor.
This shelter is also time-lined to be built FIRST before any of the other projects they have proposed.
We want BC Housing to come up with a better solution. Another shelter is not the answer to the growing problem of crime and homelessness in our City.
Transitional housing actually helps people. Shelters just perpetuate the problem.
Concerns:
These concerns are based on real life issues that already exist at other BC Housing and Mustard seed run sites.
It is VERY safe and completely reasonable to assume that these problems will be increased and created at this new site.
- safety of park users:
- seniors
- children & families
- students
- teachers
- tourists
- residents and regular park users
- safety of hospital staff using the adjacent parking lot
- safety of seniors
- degradation of environment
- garbage
- paraphanalia
- smoking
- destruction/clearing of trees and brush for camps
In the News:
CBC Piece on Eviction at Glenfair >
No New Shelters on Riverfront says council >
But creeks and riparian areas are ok?
CBC Daybreak Piece with BC Housing rep at 5:30 >
CBC Interview with the petition initiator and Danielle from the Mustard Seed >
– July 8th interview starts at 1:42
“It’s important to note that we’re offering a structured supported response to some challenges that already exist. We’re not bringing in new issues into a neighbourhood. It’s also not a large volume shelter. There’s 40 beds and it’s a targeted dignified space for a vulnerable population that is already here.”
**** NOTE: There have NEVER been 40 people sheltering in Peterson Creek ****
CFJC Coverage of the launch of our petition >
