Additional emergency shelter beds added in Penticton

A temporary use permit recently granted by Penticton city council will allow for additional emergency shelter beds in the city this winter.

City Council granted a temporary use permit to the former Victory Church property located at 352 Winnipeg Street to allow Penticton and District Society for Community Living to run an emergency winter shelter of up to 42 beds on the premises for up to six months.

The beds would only be used in the event the city’s other emergency shelter beds were full at Compass House.

Penticton has between 120 and 150 homeless at any one time, estimates say, including people in temporary shelters, living outside and those staying on people’s couches and floors.

More than 65 per cent of these people have been in Penticton for five years or more and can’t find suitable housing due to complex mental and substance use problems, 100 more Homes Penticton said in a press release issued today, Oct. 26.

"100 More Homes Penticton are pleased with the City’s response, United Way Community Impact and Poverty Reduction Manager Naomi Woodland said in a press release issued today, Oct. 26.

Speaking on behalf of the 100 More Homes Penticton steering committee, Woodland continued: “They are an important partner in helping to address homelessness in the community and we appreciate their compassionate response to our most vulnerable.”

The shelter will be providing additional support mechanisms in light of concerns raised by the public prior to council issuing the temporary use permit. Additional support is coming from community partners of the 100 More Homes Penticton steering committee along with financial support from B.C. Housing.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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