A group of Penticton residents have planned a protest to voice their concerns over city council91裸聊视频檚 refusal to allow a temporary winter shelter to stay open.

The Victory Church winter shelter at 352 Winnipeg Street in downtown Penticton was originally approved by council to continue its operations on an emergency basis until April 1, 2021.

Due to a lack of alternative housing options for the 42 residents the shelter currently houses, BC Housing asked the city to keep the shelter open for an additional year until March 31, 2022.

Council quickly and unanimously shot down the request on March 2. Councillors and the mayor cited safety and security concerns and a lack of transparency from BC Housing as the main reasons for their decision.

Now, a group of concerned residents is organizing a protest in opposition to council91裸聊视频檚 decision.

The protest, advertised in a Facebook group called Penticton Overdose Prevention, will take place Friday, March 5 at 2 p.m. across from city hall at Gyro Park.

91裸聊视频淧lease join us in taking a stand against the decision city council has made to not extend this vital service in our community,91裸聊视频� reads a post in the group.

Organizers, led by local harm reduction advocate Desiree Franz, encourage protesters to bring tents and set them up in Gyro Park to 91裸聊视频渟how city council what the result of their decision will look like come April 1.91裸聊视频�

If the shelter is forced to cease operations on April 1, all 42 residents will be displaced.

B.C. Housing Minister David Eby was outspoken against council91裸聊视频檚 decision, stating he believes the city has put itself at risk of creating a tent city. BC Housing is currently trying to find homes for people living in tent cities in Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo.

Eby said he fears Penticton is flirting with a similar situation.

91裸聊视频淲e simply can91裸聊视频檛 have a situation of another encampment in the province that91裸聊视频檚 deliberately created,91裸聊视频� Eby said. 91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 afford to go backwards in Penticton.91裸聊视频�

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki took issue with Eby91裸聊视频檚 comments, saying he does not believe a homeless encampment will establish as one never has in past years when winter shelters close. Vassilaki said Eby91裸聊视频檚 comments were 91裸聊视频渋rresponsible91裸聊视频� and that Eby was 91裸聊视频渦sing fear-mongering in order to get his way.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 will not be intimidated by him or anyone else when it comes to the safety and the welfare of the City of Penticton,91裸聊视频� Vassilaki said.

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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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