Report Details the Homelessness Problem Facing Kelowna

A panel discussion took place on Wednesday at UBC-Okanagan as people gathered to discuss homelessness in the community.

A report was recently compiled by the Executive Director with the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, Lorraine Copas. The panel discussion included Copas, Robert Fine director of the Central Okanagan Economic Commission, Sheila Lewis, a UBC Okanagan Alumni, Irene Maier, high school Counsellor with SD 23 and Garth Letcher with the Kelowna Community Policing service.

Students discussing information about the risks of homelessness (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

Around 100 people were in attendance for the discussion on the newly released report, ‘Family Homelessness in Prince George, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson and Nanaimo’. Kelowna mayor Colin Basran was in attendance and opened the panel discussion by presenting opening remarks.

“We zone buildings not people so all areas of Kelowna have the ability to have group homes or have assistance living apartments,” said Basran. “As a result we have many, many single family homes across the city that have been converted to group homes. These needs can only be fully met if the efforts of federal and provincial governments, developers, the business and non-profit sectors all align and work together.”

Attendees for the panel discussion at UBCO (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

Basran said that there is a lot more the city needs to do and focus on to help reduce the number of homeless and near homeless people in Kelowna.

“On a personal note, one of the biggest eye openers for me was that in a lot of cases the root cause of homelessness and addiction in our community is mental health,” explained Basran. “What I think is great is that younger generations are being more open about discussing mental health.”

Copas then addressed the room to discuss some of the key findings from the report which looked at five communities; Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Nelson and Nanaimo. In these five communities 20 families were contacted and a total of 100 families participated. In total 305 people were affected by homelessness as the families extend to more than just one person, but children, extended family and so on.

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran delivering opening remarks (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

“Families are doing everything that they can to prevent showing up in the shelter system,” said Copas. “When you think of family homelessness and people who have been pushed to the edge, they don’t even have that chance (to give their child every opportunity), the kids get robbed the chance to be kids because they are trying to comfort their mom, and show them that it is not a problem. And when they looks at their peers they know that their situation is different.”

The study found that in Kelowna one in three households are renters, Nelson had the highest proportion while Kamloops was slightly lower. That means about 28 per cent of households in Kelowna are renters, totalling 3,195 families renting. The study focused in on the amount people are paying for housing and what percentage of their income is going to provide shelter.

Lorraine Copas presenting the report's findings (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

Of these families that are renting, 1,275 of them spend 30 per cent or more of their income on rent, which represents 40 per cent of all families with children. Those at greatest risk of homelessness are families that spend 50 per cent or more on housing and in 2011 there were 970 families doing just that in Kelowna.

While most people think of the homeless as those living on the street and using shelters this isn’t necessarily the correct definition. Families that are spending 30 per cent, or 50 per cent of their income on housing are at risk of becoming homeless, have been homeless or are using other resources to avoid using shelters or community housing. Obviously one of the biggest hurdles facing those facing homelessness is the cost of rent and Kelowna lacks affordable housing. But this is not the only thing needed to ‘solve’ the problem.

While gathering information Copas said that other factors such as reliable public transportation came up again and again. In smaller communities many families said they could begin to help themselves if they had transportation available to them.

Audience in attendance for the discussion (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

Several other recommendations were given by Copas as identified by the report.

“Continue to explore opportunities and partnerships to expand this kind of affordable housing, and I have created a housing target,” adds Copas. “To reduce the number of housing families in ‘worst case needs’ in Kelowna by 20 per cent per year over the next five years, it’s estimated that Kelowna would have to add 178 new affordable housing units for families. It feels do-able, although it is a challenge.”

Another recommendation would be to have better access to education programs, transportation, child care services, and provide people with economic independence. Education for the community and working together in partnerships is a key role government can play. Launching projects and pilot projects in the community can also help to solve the issue of homelessness.

Some of the material availalbe at the presentation (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

The full report is expected to be available to anyone who is interested. For more information contact the Social Planning and Research Council of BC.