Kamloops council has, partially, amended a decision made last week for transitional housing providers to have 24-7 security.
The new change means security will only be needed if the city asks for it.
Coun. Bill Sarai said last week that was the intention of his motion, although that part wasn’t explicitly stated in it.
“I apologize if it wasn’t clear enough. Agencies out in the public, the non profits, were panicking. The women’s shelter, the Elizabeth Fry, the John Howard Society, were starting to have to get security and nurses and that. And that wasn’t my intention,” Sarai says.
“My intention was to address the critical need at these services in neighbourhoods that we know are hotspots, and we know we need to address them. And we just don’t have the people at the table to address them.”
Sarai says police, fire or ambulance responded 800 times last year to calls within a two-block radius, close to several transitional housing projects.
He says the purpose of having 24-7 security is to deter bad behaviour but also to protect some of the vulnerable people who use transitional housing.
“They’re getting preyed upon. That security on site will also be keeping that person who has some mental health issues or addiction issues safe in the housing they have. So (they) don’t get bullied, so that (they) don’t get taken advantage of.”
The amendment passed by a unanimous 8-0 vote among councillors, after the motion made last week passed by a much closer 5-3 margin. Coun. Sadie Hunter abstained from both votes because of a conflict of interest.
Two of the hotspots for emergency calls, Rosethorn House and Emerald Centre, which are right next door on West Victoria Street, already have 24-hour security. That was brought in last May because of concerns raised in the community, and it’s paid for by BC Housing.
“BC Housing has no reason to believe that the issues along the West Victoria corridor are a result of the tenants or guests of Rosethorn House or Emerald Centre. However, we do know that there are sometimes criminal elements that prey on vulnerable populations,” media relations manager Laura Mathews says. “BC Housing and its partners want everyone – its tenants and neighbours alike – to feel they live in a safe and secure neighbourhood.”
– with a file from Marcella Bernardo
