Vernon Councillor Advocates for a Temporary Halt on New Supportive Housing Initiatives: What You Need to Know

Councilor Kari Gares is calling for a pause on new supportive housing projects in Vernon. She believes it’s time to evaluate the existing strategy and see if it’s achieving its goals.

At the recent council meeting on February 24, Gares proposed a motion to temporarily halt any new builds. She wants a thorough study done to examine the impact of current supportive housing efforts before moving forward with more developments.

Supportive housing generally provides subsidized living spaces combined with support services for individuals and families at risk of homelessness. This initiative is crucial for helping those in need, including seniors and people with disabilities. In Vernon, there are already several supportive housing buildings, such as My Place, which opened in 2019, and The Crossings, which followed in 2022.

A new supportive housing project is underway at 2307 43rd Street, which will feature 51 self-contained units when completed. Although Gares supports the idea of supportive housing, she emphasized that we need to understand its effects on the community first.

Gares has spoken with residents living near My Place and The Crossings, and many have expressed concerns about safety in the area. She mentioned that those living close to these facilities, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, feel uneasy about their surroundings.

Local businesses have also raised worries about the environment, prompting Gares to highlight the city’s responsibility to consider all community members, not just those in supportive housing.

The temporary pause suggested by Gares would not impact projects already in progress. Still, she believes an impact assessment could guide the city in adjusting its approach to supportive housing. This information will help in planning future initiatives effectively.

Gares acknowledges that BC Housing, which oversees supportive housing, may continue its projects without local approval. However, she hopes her motion sends a message that Vernon needs to be included in these discussions. “We need to work together if we want to succeed,” Gares stated. “It’s our community, and we need to address potential challenges together.”

There are ongoing safety concerns in the neighborhoods where supportive housing is concentrated. Gares questions the strategy of clustering these buildings, suggesting that scattering them might integrate supportive housing better within the community. She believes this idea should be part of the impact assessment she advocates for.

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