Credit: Mel Rothenburger

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Finding somewhere for the street folks to go isn’t easy

Jun 2, 2021 | 4:23 AM

KAMLOOPS — YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED, as you drive up from Victoria Street West onto Seymour, there’s usually a half dozen street folks hanging out at the honking big utilities box beside the sidewalk.

It was installed during the rebuilding of the street. The work also included removing a set of stairs that ran from the street up to the West End.

The area at the top had become a gathering spot for the people of the street, and taking out the stairs solved the problem for nearby residents but the street people now congregate at the utilities box.

It’s nicely set back from a retaining wall and provides a handy place to sit, chat and — let’s be candid — probably to do drugs for those who are so inclined.

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An easy solution would be one of those attractive wrought-iron fences with a locked gate. But then we must ask ourselves, why?

As I pointed out when the stairs were removed, the City has spent a lot of money over the years eliminating hang-out spots for street folk. But they need to get together somewhere. The latest development on the topic is the designation of the Loop, a place on Tranquille Road that feeds the homeless and marginalized, as a nuisance property.

Neighbours and businesses have complained about the numbers gathering there and the perception of an uptick in crime. Hopefully, that problem will be sorted out but it adds to the point about the need for gathering spots.

It’s not easy. Those spots have to be easily accessible to street folks but not interfere with the public’s right to feel safe.

Which brings up public washrooms. The City has been looking for locations in order to provide “dignity” to those who live on the streets but they’re bound to become hangouts in themselves, so, again, location is everything.

If you’ll excuse the expression, it’s all about finding somewhere to go.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.