Agenda Package - City of Vernon

Evaluation of Homelessness Strategy for the North Okanagan
higher than average elderly dependency ratio; a higher than average per capita measure of lone
paient families; significantly lower than average income levels per family unit (568,731 vs
580,511 (BC)); a lower level of mental health well-being within the community than the average
for the Province; significantly greater alcohol consumption per capita; and a significantly higher
youth at risk index.l7
Despite the milieu of difficult socio-economic circumstances highlighted by an
accelerating homelessness crisis in Vernon and the North Okanagan, in 2006-2007 there seemed
to be little if any substantive cohesion/cooperation amongst the various agencies/authorities
whose individual mandates specifically or broadly dealt with homelessness issues. This is not to
say the services available were not effective. This is not to say that the services were even
working at cross purposes for that matter; although the potential was there. Rather there
seemed to be an absence of a common agreement as to what needed to be done; few working
partnerships or common/multi-stakeholder initiatives; and, in some cases, a hesitancy to come
together. That being said, there were some unifying initiatives underway, e'g' , the Social
elánning Council's approach to the Province for funding pursuant to the BC Safe Streets and Safe
School Program; and the city of Vernon's, community Futures' and the united way's
commitment to supporting the ongoing work of the Committee (Partners for a Safe and Healthy
Community subsequently renamed Partners in Action)'
2.2.I Task Force on Flomelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions
Plan
it should be noted as a backdrop to the preparation of the 2007 Strategic
North Okanasan), the Province
of British Columbia had in June 2006 undertaken a number of regional forums on homelessness
throughout British Columbia. These forums allowed "..'service providers, odvococy
orgont¡zat¡ons ond opposition MLAs to communicate their concerns, ínterests ond understonding
of the homelessness issue to the Provinciol Task Force." The forums were structured to serue a
number of purposes not the least of which included a platform from which: (i) local partners
could be engaged in identifying locally appropriate solutions to homelessness challenges; and (ii)
local partners could initiate discussions and cultivate relationships to better coordinate and
integrate local seruices.tt The outcome arising from these discussions included no doubt a
Lt-;
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sìo
:r:ï':ii':;.t or concerns resordins the issues of
homelessness ond øffordoble housing. From North Voncouver to Fott st. John, community representat¡ves repeotedly
identified common borriers to sustoiÁable housing. (1) Neor zero voconcy rotes for rental accommodation throughout
B.c. medn that many residents, even those with jobs, ore unoble to occess housing; (2) Non-proÍit ogencies providing
se,ice to the homeless are reaching burnout states, often due to o løck of occessible resources in the community for
their clients; (3) Communities ond municipalities cønnot offord to address the tack oÍ aÍÍordoble housing on their own'
Funding ogreements should acknowledge the shored respons¡bilìty oÍ the federøl government, provinciol government,
ond munìcipol govemments; (4) A disproportionote number of Aboriginot people ond fomilies ore homeless; (5) There
is o need for increased serv¡ces for people with mentol health ond/or oddictions issues; (6) There is o need for
support¡ve housing to provide tenants with integrcted service delivery such os heolth core support, occupotionol
training, counseliig ond other ossistonce; (7) There is o need for o contínuum of housing to help people tronsition from
emergency shelters to supportive housìng to afiordable long-term housing; (8) There is o need Íor more ofiordoble
rentol housing in oll communities; (9) Tie omount of the current shelter ollowonce Jor tncome Assistonce does not
ollow recÌpieÃts tu rent odequdte shelter; (10) There is o need for public educotion on the ìssue of homelessness to
Lochaven Management Consultants Ltd.
November 2010
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