Rigid model blamed for failed Penticton vote to approve tiny homes for the unhoused
Global News
Despite a growing homelessness problem in the South Okanagan city, council voted 4-2 against the project and the millions of provincial dollars that would come along with it.
A day after Penticton, B.C., city council voted against moving forward with a tiny home community for the unhoused, the decision is not sitting well with many, including homeless advocates.
“They don’t care if people die on the streets and to me, that is disgusting,” said Desiree Surowski, the executive director of the Penticton Overdose Prevention Society.
The society runs a winter shelter on Dawson Avenue and was hopeful that tiny homes would add more supports for those experiencing homelessness.
“I have the responsibility….to go and tell people who have worked their butts off to stabilize in a system that is not set up for stabilization, and tell them that our city council doesn’t think they’re worthy of anything more, that they’re not worthy of being given an opportunity to increase their well-being,” Surowski told Global News.
Despite a growing homelessness problem in the South Okanagan city, council voted 4-2 against the project and the millions of provincial dollars that would come along with it.
“My vote is not against helping people, let me make that clear,” said an emotional Jason Reynen, one of the four councillors who voted against issuing the temporary use permit, which would move the project forward. “It’s a vote for the right kind of help.”
Calling it a very tough decision, Reynen said it’s an increase in treatment supports that are badly needed and not more wet facilities.
“We have wet housing and a lot of those people have been in there and stuck in there for quite some time,” Reynen said. “So I think moving them to a detox is the next step.”
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