Proposed end to camping at Polson Park sparks differing perspectives

Nov 12, 2019 | 6:09 PM

A Vernon city councillor thinks its time to put an end to camping at Polson Park.

Scott Anderson put forward a notice of motion at Tuesday’s council meeting that would prohibit street encampments at Polson Park but instead allow for encampments at city hall.

In an interview with Vernon Matters Anderson said it’s time for the city to send a message to the community that they too are embroiled in the same issues that residents and businesses deal with daily.

“Why should we be exempt from the problem? We’re pushing the problem off on the public, we are pushing the problem off to the store owners, I think we should have it at ground zero right here,” Anderson said.

Currently city bylaw allows a person to set up a temporary encampment at Polson Park from dusk to 9 a.m. the next day if they are unable to find a place to sleep for the night. A second notice of motion proposed by Anderson would shrink camping times from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

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Cenotaph Park, City Hall, the Recreation Centre, the Performing Arts Centre, Kal Tire Place, and Linear Park are areas where temporary encampments are not allowed under the city’s bylaws.

When asked by Vernon Matters about concerns that the closure of Polson Park will lead to a scattering of other encampments elsewhere, Anderson said he hopes the closure of Polson Park will send a signal to the street entrenched, particularly those involved in criminal activity, to leave the community.

“Frankly, speaking as a Vernon city councillor, I’m hoping they decide to leave town, in particular the street entrenched who are causing problems. There are certain people that want to phrase this as a homeless problem. It’s not a homeless problem, it is drug problem, and it’s a mental illness problem, but it is also a problem that involves criminality. I mean we saw that half our bylaw resources are taken up by this sort of thing… babysitting and it’s time to change that.

According to recent bylaw statistics, 43.6 per cent of bylaw files relating to the street entrenched relate to a temporary street encampment.

Coun. Kelly Fehr said the statistics speak volumes as to the amount of work that needs to be done to ensure housing for those living in poverty.

“I think it’s very, very, clear what the city’s mandate should be, and that’s to continue working closely with the province to increase accessible and affordable housing options, but I have a big problem waking someone up in the morning, then telling them to take their camp down, and tell them that they have to walk around the street carrying their belongings from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., strictly because they don’t have a home to live in.” said Fehr.

As for Anderson’s notice of motion, Fehr said he has some concerns about shifting marginalized people from a relatively secluded area to an area where they would feel displayed. He also doesn’t believe that Anderson’s notice of motion would drive street entrenched people out of the city as Anderson suggests.

“I don’t think that addiction and poverty and mental health is something that any community has been able to police their way out of, resulting in a successful solution.” Fehr said.

Council is expected to discuss Anderson’s two notice of motions at the next council meeting on Nov. 25.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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