Prince George City Council continues to pursue its options for addressing the encampments in the northern capital.
The city is seeking a court injunction to remove from public property the encampments, which have been declared unsafe.
The process to apply for such an injunction for the closure of the encampments (George Street and 5th Avenue) is anticipated to take two to three months.
In addition, Mayor and Council are continuing to work with the provincial government, Northern Health, BC Housing, and Indigenous organizations to provide better housing opportunities for those with mental health and addictions issues living in those encampments.
“I’m not talking about shelters. I am talking about opportunities where they would be in a rooming house setting if you will. We just see that as a much safer opportunity for them.”
“That’s why we are pursuing this (injunction). We are seeing some issues as a result of the tent encampments such as increased issues with fires, fireworks, open burning, campfires, and we hearing about issues in various neighborhoods,” said Mayor Lyn Hall.
One of the city’s housing projects is now under construction on First Avenue at the former location of NR Motors. The first phase will include 50 supportive housing units, which are expected to open next year while the next phase will begin soon after and include 100 units and on-site health service supports.
Hall told MyPGNow.com that the project along with a few others could eventually help put a stop to the homelessness issue taking place in the northern capital.
“The Elizabeth Fry Society is putting up their new housing facility along 15th Avenue so when I talk about housing it is all-inclusive about everything that we are seeing being constructed in the community. This will be of great assistance and a great need for our community as well. We have I think given those projects, especially along 1st Avenue but they are five to eight months down the road so what we are looking for are interim solutions and housing for folks.”
“At the end of the day, what we really do need to find is that transitional housing between now and the time we open up 1st Avenue.”
Furthermore, council has delayed a final vote on the Safe Streets Bylaw, which is intended to address aggressive panhandling, loitering, littering, sidewalk obstruction, graffiti, open drug use, and needle disposal, as well as the creation of structures, temporary shelters, and campfires on City streets and sidewalks.
Hall explained he and council needed more time to adjust the construction of it before getting the green light.
“One of the bylaws is specific on fines that would be levied against people who conduct certain things on our city streets and sidewalks from a panhandling perspective. For me, it’s about how effective is that, and is it impactful in other communities? In the main bylaw around the safe streets, I just felt there needed to be a little bit more work done regarding other examples and best practices that have taken place in other communities as close as Quesnel.”
“How are they able to maintain that and how are they able to enforce it, regulate because it will be staffing intense. Not only from bylaw services but from an RCMP perspective as well.”
Final approval will now be considered on August 30th.
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