Westview Ratepayers Society (WRS) has made five requests of City of Powell River Council regarding a new supportive housing facility planned for Barnet Street.
At the August 19 committee of the whole meeting, WRS supportive housing subcommittee spokesperson Sherry Burton appeared as a delegation to outline the requests.
“Westview Ratepayers ardently supports shelters, housing and programs for individuals experiencing adversity and/or homelessness,” said Burton. “It has been proactive in raising ongoing issues and concerns with council, Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill and BC Housing regarding BC Housing’s policies, particularly in relation to the management and operation of its local housing and service programs.
“On July 30, BC Housing announced its new project on Barnet Street, a 24/7 shelter and overdose prevention site. This is a temporary shelter until the new supportive housing-shelter-complex care facility is built adjacent to the hospital. The city published a legal notice announcing its lease with BC Housing for $10 for the entire five-year term.”
Burton said that since the closure of the overnight shelter, increased hardship among unhoused individuals and growing concerns from residents and businesses has been witnessed.
“We are here today to advocate for a balanced, compassionate, and safe approach to this new project,” said Burton.
She said that pursuant to the four pillars of harm reduction, which are: prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement, along with council’s responsibility to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality and its community, and the city’s responsibilities and landlord/lessor of this project, WRS was making the requests.
The first was that lease terms must protect the community.
“The city must prioritize compliance and ensure lease terms are being fulfilled,” said Burton. “When breaches occur, it must pursue enforcement.”
The second request was that there should be independent, 24/7 security, which should be provided by a third party, not service provider employees.
“The community, including shelter clients, experienced employee-led security at the former overnight shelter,” said Burton. “The city and council are fully aware that this model was inadequate and failed to protect both the community and shelter clients.
“If council does not support independent security, we respectfully request a clear rationale be provided to the community.”
Burton said the overdose prevention site (OPS) should not be co-located on the property.
“For the safety of employees, community members, and unhoused sober individuals, and to protect the privacy of OPS clients, co-location of the OPS at this site is detrimental, inappropriate, and will contribute to more antisocial incidents,” she added.
The fourth point was that the shelter must be inclusive and operate as a dry facility.
“Permitting drug use within the shelter, combined with OPS, will exclude individuals in recovery, seniors, youth and those fleeing trauma, who may feel unsafe or unsupported in such an environment,” said Burton. “A dry facility ensures broader accessibility and dignity for all.”
Finally, WRS is calling for an independent, third-party audit of Lift Community Services. Burton said that on behalf of individuals experiencing adversity and/or homelessness, and local residents and businesses, city council should submit and support a formal request to BC Housing for the audit of Lift.
“Concerns raised by residents and businesses have been substantiated by former service provider employees, and current and former supportive housing-shelter clients,” said Burton. “An independent audit would not only address community concerns, but would also provide valuable insights to strengthen service delivery and rebuild public trust. It is council’s responsibility to ensure the entire community is protected.”
Burton said implementing these requests will enhance the likelihood of success for the project by minimizing negative impacts, and ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, businesses and BC Housing/VCH clients alike.
Burton said WRS reached out to BC Housing and requested a task force, and has been met with resistance.
“We are coming to council and your responsibility to protect the community, for help,” said Burton. “There needs to be pushback from council and the municipality to BC Housing over their housing-first policy. It needs to be implemented in a much more inclusive, thorough way.
“We have already experienced six years of housing-first, and that is not working for the community, especially for supportive housing and shelter clients.”
Mayor Ron Woznow said he had tried for many years to get security in place and that there were a slew of what he considered to be unreasonable reasons as to why Lift, operating on behalf of the housing authority, would not do that.
He asked if WRS had engaged Neill in her role as a cabinet minister to provide some direction to the minister responsible for BC Housing.
Burton said WRS submitted, at the beginning of July, an email to the minister and BC Housing and response was being awaited.
The province announced, on July 30, through BC Housing, in partnership with City of Powell River, an allocation of $4.6 million toward construction of a new 40-bed temporary shelter at 7194 Barnet Street.
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