More than 30 people spoke their piece at the West Âé¶čAV town hall meeting Thursday night.
The meeting drew almost 300 people and was organized by the City of West Âé¶čAV to give residents a chance to voice concerns and suggest possible solutions on the growing conflicts in downtown that have been caused by homeless people.
West Âé¶čAV residents have started voicing their concerns at the Town Hall meeting. Concerns on the impact of homeless is the biggest topic being discussed. Drug use and enabling biggest reported problem in downtown core.
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Speakersâ solutions ranged from more affordable housing, shipping homeless off to a segregated area, less shelters, tough love, better mental health aid, compassion and increased law enforcement.
One of the largest concerns was the location of the West Âé¶čAV Shelter Society that is now housed at the Westbank United Church on Brown Road in downtown.
Speakers argued that drug-use facilities only bring more homeless people and enables drug users.
âIf there is real interest in harm reduction, the people (council) should be concentrating on us, the taxpayers and business people,â one speaker said.
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More sympathetic ideas were also voiced to council.
Rev. Hogman from the Westbank United Church spoke to remind people to be committed to everyone in the West Âé¶čAV community and that the city is âin it together.â
Other voices reached out in support of the positive initiatives to help the homeless.
âIt takes a whole village to raise a child,â speaker Doug Brown said.
âThey are in great need. (We) need to play a part in helping.â
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West Âé¶čAV council was joined at the meeting by representatives of city partners: Westbank First Nations, BC Housing, RCMP, Interior Health and the West Âé¶čAV Shelter Society.
Council said they were going to listen and interpret all the put-forth concerns and adapt new solutions and city plans with their partners to improve the conditions with homeless people in downtown.
âIâm really proud of our community for the many people that came here tonight,â Mayor Gord Milsom said.
âEmotions ranged from deep compassion to fear, itâs an emotional topic and I found it emotional. But thatâs what we wanted to do, we wanted to listen and now weâre going to think about what was said.â
West Âé¶čAV council and WFNâs Town Hall for residents concludes. Over 20 speakers came forward to discuss downtown issues which focused on homeless and drug use in the city.
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No date has been set for when council plans to present the reactive action plan.
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