City Council approved potential spots where temporary overnight shelters for the unhoused could be placed. But only if the shelters are filled.
The discussion on whether to adopt new temporary shelters sparked a debate among the council members at the meeting on May 6.
The majority of the councillors agreed that the bylaw adoption should only be used when the current shelters in the city are at full capacity. As per the report by Bylaw Staff.
A total of eleven locations were proposed in the bylaw’s report. One option is the free parking lot on First Avenue, across from the proposed Elks Hall Shelter. Another option is the RC Cotton Site off Bagshaw Road, which is the preferred site for the unhoused to use to set up tents when shelters are at capacity.
With a designated location, the bylaw adoption would give tools and resources to Bylaw Enforcement that allow them to move people away from other public locations to the designated area.
Councillor Scott Nelson was strongly opposed to the motion, saying he was “a big fat no.”
“This is about safety in this community, and that’s the bottom line,” Nelson says. “This council continues to roll out the red carpet, and continues to put the safety at this community in jeopardy.”
Councillor Nelson also said that neither of the shelters in Williams Lake has been filled in recent history.
The rest of council acknowledged that these resources will help bylaw officers the chance for the City to avoid any potential human rights violations for not having policies in place for unhoused and vulnerable communities; and any legal and financial repercussions.
“ Us designating these areas isn’t necessarily saying, that we’re gonna set up some areas for tent encampments,” says Councillor Joan Flaspohler. “Ultimately, as far the bylaw, that is not what we’re doing. These are places for when the shelters are full. Bylaw can say ‘you can put your tent there, but you have to move it in the morning because We ideally want you in the shelter where you have support systems around you.'”
The bylaw adoption was approved with only Councillor Nelson opposing.
Councillor Flaspohler brought a recommendation forward for City Staff to complete quarterly reports on the use of the designated shelter locations, and the status of the emergency shelters in the community.
The recommendation was approved unanimously.
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