Vernon's supportive housing neighbourhood is looking a lot tidier after a community clean-up saw residents comb through its streets Wednesday, March 19.
The clean-up was hosted by Turning Points Collaborative Society, an organization that aims to help people who are at risk of experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
It was the society's second annual clean-up which saw about 25 supportive housing residents and as many staff and general residents pick up garbage in the downtown area. The clean-up went from the emergency shelter on 37th Street, past My Place and The Crossing supportive housing buildings and over to the Polson supportive housing units. It ended with a complimentary barbecue, which allowed people in the neighbourhood to get to know one another.
The event was also an opportunity for supportive housing residents to demonstrate some goodwill to the community.
"Last year when we thought about doing it, it was just a way to give back to our community within the neighbourhood, just to welcome them to have a meal with us, to introduce ourselves and just be friendly neighbours. We wanted to make sure that we take pride in our neighbourhood and our areas where we live," said Naomi Poitras, site manager at The Crossing, which is operated by Turning Points.
Poitras said this year's event saw a strong turnout and estimates as many as 100 trash bags were used to clean up garbage. Okanagan Property Services even donated a dump truck for the day to fill with garbage and hauled it away on its own dime.
"That was amazing too that we also have the support from community businesses," she said.
Supportive housing projects in Vernon has become a topic of discussion since Coun. Kari Gares made a motion in council to put a pause on supportive housing projects in the city to allow time to assess whether the city's supportive housing strategy is working.
Whether supportive housing projects are paused or not does not necessarily hinge on Gares' motion. She pointed out that BC Housing has its own mandate to provide supportive housing and "they can do as they please, they can come in and do whatever they want within local government ... they really don't need, say, the City of Vernon or any municipality's approval to do that."
Gares is calling for an impact assessment to be done, which she claims would provide the city with better insight into the matter.
Poitras said she had no comment at this time regarding Gares' motion, but stressed that supportive housing residents deserve respect.
"Just because our clients live in supportive housing complexes doesn't mean that they're bad people," she said.
Poitras said they had people stopping by to thank them for what they were doing while they were cleaning.
"It's just about being good neighbours," she said.
