Following a delegation from BC Housing and further discussion amongst City Council on Monday, the highly contentious homeless shelter will be open to a virtual Public Hearing on February 1st, 2021.
While the proposed rezoning of land at 209 16th Avenue North to accommodate the homeless shelter was first brought to City Council in early January, what followed was presentations, public delegations, and a delay to the process. After Monday’s discussions around the City Council table, a Public Hearing for the zoning amendment has been established.
BC Housing expressed to City Council the need for a homeless shelter in Cranbrook. According to Nanette Drobot, Acting Director of Regional Operations and Danna Locke, Director of Regional Development, there were at least 63 homeless individuals living in Cranbrook in 2020, 42% of which has lived in Cranbrook for over a decade. That’s compared to 29 homeless identified in 2018. From the 2020 Point in Time Count, BC Housing learned 67% of the local homeless population had been on the streets for over a year.
MORE: Addressing Homelessness in Cranbrook – City Council Presentation (BC Housing)
Drobot and Locke both expressed to City Council the location of the homeless shelter at 209 16th Avenue North is preferred due to its close proximity to existing community services such as Operation Street Angel, and CCS (Community Connections Society) which is at the proposed site.
The plan for the proposed homeless shelter would be to have a year-round shelter operated 24/7 by an experienced non-profit provider. The shelter would provide access to meals, showers, bathrooms, laundry and secure storage. BC Housing said approximately 40 sleeping beds would be offered at the year-round shelter.
Prior to meeting with City Council, BC Housing held a virtual information session on January 13th where they were 116 attendees. At the information session, BC Housing shared similar information as to what was relayed to Cranbrook City Council on Monday.
MORE: Cranbrook’s 16th Avenue Homeless Shelter Engagement (BC Housing)
City Council had plenty of questions of BC Housing on the matter. Councillor Wes Graham asked about drug and alcohol consumption within the shelter, as well as if people would have locked areas for storage, and how conflict is handled.
Drobot clarified that the proposed shelter would have an Overdose Prevention Site (OPS), which is different from a Safe Injection Site (SIS). While SIS is open to all members of the community, the overdose prevention site is a space or room specifically for users of the shelter, where a trained volunteer would be on standby with naloxone in case of an overdose. ANKORS East Kootenay, which is also at 209 16th Avenue North currently has an OPS and would operate similarly to the designated space in the proposed homeless shelter.
When it comes to conflict, Drobot said they have partnerships with the RCMP and some locations in the province have a dedicated officer on location. However, Drobot said having the trained non-profit workers are on location at the shelter 24/7 to deescalate and use non-violent intervention in case of conflict.
MORE: Overview of Proposed Homeless Shelter and Cranbrook’s Homeless Population (City of Cranbrook)
The full live stream of Monday’s City Council Meeting and the discussion on the proposed homeless shelter can be found below. The discussion around the homeless shelter is in the first 1:35:00 and again from 2:54:42 to 3:06:16.
The Public Hearing on the zoning amendment for the proposed homeless shelter will be held virtually. The proposed zoning bylaw is looking to add Supportive Housing, Supportive Services, and Public and Social Services as permitted and accessory use at 209 16th Avenue North, changing the official designation from Community Recreation Zone: P-2 to Special Institutional Zone: P-4.
The public will be able to view the live-streamed Public Hearing at 6:00 pm on February 1st, 20201 here. www.cranbrook.ca/livestream The City of Cranbrook is providing a number of ways for the public to provide feedback.
Residents may choose to write in their comments to City Hall. They can either drop-off those comments at City Hall directly or email [email protected] prior to 4:00 pm on February 1st.
If residents wish to speak at the Public Hearing they must pre-register for the event but sending their name, address and phone number to [email protected] before February 1st. The City said those residents who pre-register must then call 1-833-313-1490 by 5:50 pm to confirm their registration. The meeting number for the Pubic Hearing is 146-580-503-6. Cranbrook said if residents are asked for an attendee number, they must simply enter the “#” symbol over the phone. Everyone will be able to hear the meeting but participants will be placed on hold and muted until it is their turn to speak and express their thoughts and views on the matter.
Seeing as the Public Hearing is being held on February 1st and the City anticipates significant participation, the Cranbrook City Council meeting booked for the 1st will be moved to February 8th instead.
