By Tom Mark

Resolving Vernon’s Homeless Issue

Oct 24, 2017 | 10:10 AM

Finding a solution to Vernon`s homeless problem is not going to be easy.

Annette Sharkey with the Social Planning Council says what local merchants are feeling happened 10 years ago as well.

The city is launching a task force to see what can be done, but Sharkey says there is an answer.

“And I understand with the business community the fear that they feel. It’s not okay that people are feeling afraid in their business or walking on the streets. And again, the answer really to all of the issues that we’re experiencing is more supported housing.”

Sharkey says it will be the community that is most organized that will get the funding and she`s hoping people in Vernon will get on board.

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Last week`s homeless count showed Vernon`s homeless situation is a home-grown issue.

Seventy-six per cent of the homeless surveyed are either from Vernon or have family here.

“So, these are definitely people that are connected to our community. Only 18 per cent have been in Vernon for less than a year. Of that 18 per cent, half of them said they had either grown up here or had family here.”

So, one might ask, why can’t families do more to help their loved ones.

“Families aren’t trained in how to to work with mental health and addictions. There’s a lack of services and support. So for families they might do as much as they can to support their loved ones but may just have gotten to the end of their rope.”

Sharkey says we need to have some empathy for families as they also go through the pain of having someone who is homeless.

She says the current situation is similar to 2008 – 2009 when the rental vacancy rate was low.

It improved over the five years past that.

“Within that time period where we saw people coming from the outside it was up 5, 6, seven per cent that vacancy rate. So people were able to come in. They were able to get units in the private market.”

Sharkey says the market is so tight right now that anyone with any type of issue or isn’t a good tenant is going to have a problem finding a place to rent.

It’s hoped a decision by BC Housing to fund an extra 20 additional 24 hour shelter beds will take some of the pressure off.

Local advocates are going flat out to find a more permanent solution.

“We are very coordinated, very mobilized in this community and we are definitely going after funding that is available.

Sharkey understands the emotion that is being expressed right now but says both the city and non-profits are working together to get senior government support.

She adds she sees a shift with BC Housing in that it is focusing on supported housing and that`s where we will get some real solutions to supported housing.

Sharkey says the city has come through this before and she`s confident it will again.

by Tom Mark