As City of Kamloops staff recommend council amend a bylaw to formally allow homeless people to camp on city property they do not think it will make an already bad problem worse.
Director of Community and Protective Services Byron McCorkell was asked if the city goes ahead and approves the how, when, and where rules could it cause an increase in the city’s homeless population.
“This is not expected to do anything more than just make sure they understand how can they can access shelter and provide for themselves in accordance with what we are legally required to do.”
McCorkell says the city has a legal obligation as set out by the courts to allow people without homes the ability to shelter.
“In accordance with that we are basically looking at the bylaw and saying okay if people are going to find themselves in a situation where they have to temporary overnight outdoors here is how they do it.”
He says the city is working to find housing solutions for all homeless and low income peoples.
Council has yet to approve the amendment.