I am writing to object to the proposed adoption of Bylaw No. 11214, Amendment #28 to Traffic Bylaw No. 8120
By adopting Bylaw No. 11214, Amendment #28 to Traffic Bylaw No. 8120, the City of Kelowna is knowingly making the lives our most vulnerable citizens that much more of a hardship. Being homeless is a direct result of not being able to afford permanent housing, and to fine people money because they can’t afford to stay anywhere is only putting these people further back. Instead of supporting the most vulnerable members of our society - many of whom have or are dealing with issues such as mental health, abuse and/or addiction – we are sending the message that they are a nuisance and we don’t want to have to deal with them or support them, and by fining these people $50 per night for being caught seeking refuge from the elements we are sending the message that we would rather them pack up and leave Kelowna all together and make them another municipalities burden to deal with, such as Penticton, West Kelowna, Vernon, ect.
While I can understand the concern of local businesses whose entrances often double as shelter from the harsh weather conditions at night, the fact of the matter is that these people have absolutely nowhere else to go. A recent poll conducted by the Central Okanagan Foundation confirmed that at least 233 people in Kelowna are currently homeless, and there are only approximately 90 shelter beds available within city limits. I believe that it is unfair to make it an offense to be caught living in the streets while we as a community cannot provide adequate alternative arrangements
I urge council to consider alternative avenues for the use of funding allocated to implement the adoption of Bylaw No. 11214, Amendment #28 to Traffic Bylaw No. 8120, such as budgeting for an increase in funding positions of support and relief workers to be actively on the front line providing resources, education and support, an increase in funding to provide to full 233 shelter beds to accommodate our homeless population, or an increase of funding of programs and foundations such as the Kelowna Gospel Mission, Kelowna Community Food Bank and Inn From the Cold, that are working to make sure every citizen in Kelowna has their basic human needs met – food, water and shelter.
Thank you for your time and consideration of the signatures appearing below,
Julie Bertles
Updates
December 3, 2016
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MY ENTIRE WEEK MEETING WITH LOCAL ADVOCATES TO ENSURE THAT CITY OFFICIALS CANNOT IGNORE THIS CRUCIAL PROBLEM!! THE SILENCE FROM THE OFFICE HAS BEEN DEAFENING BUT WE ARE KEEPING THE PRESSURE HIGH UNTIL THEY FACE THE REALITY OF THESE HARSH BYLAWS!!
December 3, 2016
THE MOMENTUM BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! I AM COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE ENERGY YOU ARE ALL BRINGING TO THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS!! WE HAVE THE FULL ATTENTION OF THE CITY NOW AND WE ARE NOT STOPPING UNTIL THIS BYLAW IS GONE!!
Reached 100 supporters
December 3, 2016
63 Comments
What would you do if they didn't pay the fine? Put them in jail? Well if you did that, good thing, they would have a place to sleep, 3 meals a day & be out of the cold BUT you would have to us some of our money to hire more help at the jail. So I say get the money together & build some decent shelters,,,
People on welfare or disability can not afford a place of their own in Kelowna, it is too expensive. It takes an entire welfare cheque to pay for a room in a shared appartment. Fining a welfare recipient just makes it that much harder to survive, it add to an already untenable situation.
As a city we help refugees from other countries in need as we should. But we also need to look after our homeless citizens as well by providing more housing.
As a Kelowna resident and a Community Support Worker in the Okanagan I am signing this petition on behalf of myself and the people I support to get more accommodations out there for them and to make them feel like a valued member of our Community!
As a nursing student, I've learned that it's important to look at the social determinates of health and by taking away a part of their living. Instead of fining them look at the SDoH and help these people instead of hurting them even more.
City Council should be ashamed
I agree. Fining the homeless is very foolish and only deepens the poverty cycle. But I understand this is a complex issue!
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I am writing to object to the proposed adoption of Bylaw No. 11214, Amendment #28 to Traffic Bylaw No. 8120
By adopting Bylaw No. 11214, Amendment #28 to Traffic Bylaw No. 8120, the City of Kelowna is knowingly making the lives our most vulnerable citizens that much more of a hardship. Being homeless is a direct result of not being able to afford permanent housing, and to fine people money because they can’t afford to stay anywhere is only putting these people further back. Instead of supporting the most vulnerable members of our society - many of whom have or are dealing with issues such as mental health, abuse and/or addiction – we are sending the message that they are a nuisance and we don’t want to have to deal with them or support them, and by fining these people $50 per night for being caught seeking refuge from the elements we are sending the message that we would rather them pack up and leave Kelowna all together and make them another municipalities burden to deal with, such as Penticton, West Kelowna, Vernon, ect.
While I can understand the concern of local businesses whose entrances often double as shelter from the harsh weather conditions at night, the fact of the matter is that these people have absolutely nowhere else to go. A recent poll conducted by the Central Okanagan Foundation confirmed that at least 233 people in Kelowna are currently homeless, and there are only approximately 90 shelter beds available within city limits. I believe that it is unfair to make it an offense to be caught living in the streets while we as a community cannot provide adequate alternative arrangements
I urge council to consider alternative avenues for the use of funding allocated to implement the adoption of Bylaw No. 11214, Amendment #28 to Traffic Bylaw No. 8120, such as budgeting for an increase in funding positions of support and relief workers to be actively on the front line providing resources, education and support, an increase in funding to provide to full 233 shelter beds to accommodate our homeless population, or an increase of funding of programs and foundations such as the Kelowna Gospel Mission, Kelowna Community Food Bank and Inn From the Cold, that are working to make sure every citizen in Kelowna has their basic human needs met – food, water and shelter.
Thank you for your time and consideration of the signatures appearing below,
Julie Bertles
Updates
December 3, 2016
I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MY ENTIRE WEEK MEETING WITH LOCAL ADVOCATES TO ENSURE THAT CITY OFFICIALS CANNOT IGNORE THIS CRUCIAL PROBLEM!! THE SILENCE FROM THE OFFICE HAS BEEN DEAFENING BUT WE ARE KEEPING THE PRESSURE HIGH UNTIL THEY FACE THE REALITY OF THESE HARSH BYLAWS!!
December 3, 2016
THE MOMENTUM BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! I AM COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE ENERGY YOU ARE ALL BRINGING TO THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS!! WE HAVE THE FULL ATTENTION OF THE CITY NOW AND WE ARE NOT STOPPING UNTIL THIS BYLAW IS GONE!!
Reached 100 supporters
December 3, 2016
63 Comments
This bylaw targets our most vulnerable citizens and doesn't fit into the bigger picture of a homelessness strategy. It is unconstitutional and only serves to criminalize the homeless. It needs to be repealed immediately.
What would you do if they didn't pay the fine? Put them in jail? Well if you did that, good thing, they would have a place to sleep, 3 meals a day & be out of the cold BUT you would have to us some of our money to hire more help at the jail. So I say get the money together & build some decent shelters,,,
People on welfare or disability can not afford a place of their own in Kelowna, it is too expensive. It takes an entire welfare cheque to pay for a room in a shared appartment. Fining a welfare recipient just makes it that much harder to survive, it add to an already untenable situation.
As a city we help refugees from other countries in need as we should. But we also need to look after our homeless citizens as well by providing more housing.
As a Kelowna resident and a Community Support Worker in the Okanagan I am signing this petition on behalf of myself and the people I support to get more accommodations out there for them and to make them feel like a valued member of our Community!
As a nursing student, I've learned that it's important to look at the social determinates of health and by taking away a part of their living. Instead of fining them look at the SDoH and help these people instead of hurting them even more.
City Council should be ashamed
I agree. Fining the homeless is very foolish and only deepens the poverty cycle. But I understand this is a complex issue!
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This bylaw targets our most vulnerable citizens and doesn't fit into the bigger picture of a homelessness strategy. It is unconstitutional and only serves to criminalize the homeless. It needs to be repealed immediately.