Agenda Package - City of Vernon

Evaluation of Homelessness Strategy for the North Okanagan
By way of example, considerable activity has been generated within the region relative to a
majority of the recommendations initially posed in the Strategy. lnterestingly as noted in the
strategy document a number of initiatives began and were realized before the strategy was
even completed, e.g. women's shelter and 24 Hour wrap Around service.22:
" Since the Homelessness Strotegy was odopted by the Portners in Action
committee in March of 2007, the møiority of the recommendotions have been
implemented. tn particulør, the opening of the Goteway shelter ond the
provincial government's commitment to funding o voriety of outreach workers
hos drømatically increased the non-profit sector's capacity to assist the
homeless."
Further progress of note, as identified in the 2007 Strategy:
Drop-ln progrom - the lJpper Room Mission increosed their hours ond provided a ploce for
the homeless populatíon to drop in for a coffee, mea! and use of a phone' As o result of
the exponded hours, the demond soon outgrew the stoÍf¡ng ond resources ovoiloble. The
lJpper Room Mission hos since revised their policies ond procedures and consulted with
the community on woys to deliver this service'
Downtown Heølth Centre - the Portners for a Safe and Healthy Community are providing
support to lnterior Heolth on o community consultotion for o Primary Heolth Service
downtown. tn odditíon, the low cost dentol clinic recently secured funding to ossíst in
providing dentol services to marginalized people'
Supported Housing lor peopte wÍth Addíctions/Mental Health - three local agencies were
successfu! in securing funding from BC Housing in the October 2006 cøll for proposols'
This means an inqeose in our supported housing stock for this harder to house group.
Housing Outreach Worker - A Housing Outreoch worker come on board in June 2008.
Alfordable Housing Strotegy - the City of Vernon ond Sociol Plonning Council secured
S35,O0O to hire a consultant to focìlitote on Affordobte Housing Strotegy. The consultant
witt work with the Affordobte Housing Committee of the Cíty of Vernon on policy
recommendations that result in more affordabte housing projects. The consultant will
also work with the Portners for a Sofe ond Heolthy Community to coordinate community
efforts to address the issue.
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22 This situation begs the question whether these initiatives were driven by the Strategy or vice versa? While the
answer to this question doesn't preclude the value nor importance of these successes it is important nonetheless to
understand the causality between planning and performance. This matter is further discussed in the evaluation
comments, below.
Lochaven Management Consultants Ltd.
November 2010
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