Part four of a five-part series on the homeless and how the stigma associated with being homeless directly affects the relationships between authorities, public space and themselves.

People who experience homelessness claim they are assaulted and verbally abused by authorities and even pedestrians.

Harold Smoke, a man with lived experience of homelessness, said it happens almost daily from RCMP and City of Kelowna bylaw officers.

91裸聊视频�(Authorities) literally tease them and say, 91裸聊视频極h I91裸聊视频檓 going home to my bed tonight, where are you staying?91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� said Smoke, who is now housed. 91裸聊视频淗ow do you deal with that?91裸聊视频�

Kelowna bylaw stated there have been rumours of assaults taking place, but 91裸聊视频渢here (has been) no documented criminal charges ever laid by the police against one of our bylaw officers for assaulting a homeless person,91裸聊视频� according to bylaw department manager David Gazely.

Gazely said often bylaw officers are subjected to assault and abuse by people who experience homelessness, citing that officers are often spat at, pushed and had their vehicles damaged.

According to Gazely, officers also have found homemade weapons, bear spray, machetes and axes in shopping carts.

91裸聊视频淓veryone is different in their tolerance level and how much they can actually take in terms of what their breaking point may be,91裸聊视频� Gazely said.

91裸聊视频淚 strongly believe that our officers maintain their composure as best they can under the circumstances and only react in a defensive manner if they have reason to believe they are at risk of personal bodily harm.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: Part 1: From homeless to housed: A Kelowna woman91裸聊视频檚 journey

Kelowna RCMP did not deny or confirm that physical or verbal assaults do occur.

91裸聊视频淚f someone has concerns about the manner in which they were treated by any officer of the RCMP, there are complaint processes in place through which they can bring forward their concerns,91裸聊视频� stated Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Jesse O91裸聊视频橠onaghey.

However, those who claim to have been assaulted and are experiencing homelessness, often do not bother trying the formal process.

91裸聊视频淲ho are they going to believe 91裸聊视频� a homeless person? A homeless drug addict sleeping in a park91裸聊视频�possible overdose?91裸聊视频� said Jared Charles Dayley, a 24-year-old man who now lives in Cornerstone shelter.

According to those interviewed who experience homelessness, they believe the system is pitted against them and if they were to file a complaint, it would be apt to fail.

This, Dayley claimed, does not only adhere to reporting incidents of assault from authorities; it also includes ordinary citizens.

The idea that Kelowna residents are to blame for harassing people who experience homelessness is something that Cornerstone case manager and member of Journey Home91裸聊视频檚 lived experience group James Smith would agree with, saying it is a bigger issue than people realize and that there are some 91裸聊视频減retty scary stories out there.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淯nfortunately, the way most of society looks at people that are living on the street is that they are second rate,91裸聊视频� Smith said. 91裸聊视频淪o if they are getting beat up by the cops, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter (because) they91裸聊视频檙e just homeless drug addicts.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: Part 2: We don91裸聊视频檛 deserve to sit beside 91裸聊视频榥ormal people91裸聊视频�: Kelowna homeless

READ MORE:

91裸聊视频淪ome have said they have never been beaten up, spit on and treated so badly,91裸聊视频� said Wanda MacKinnon, a member of the Lived Experience Circle on Homelessness. 91裸聊视频淎nd it seems to be OK to do that to a homeless person here.91裸聊视频�