Kamloops may be first city in B.C. ordering transitional housing operators to provide 24/7 security

KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) — City councillors in Kamloops have approved a motion that could have an impact on communities dealing with high crime rates.

City Councillor Bill Sarai feels more accountability is needed and believes many drug users are supporting their addictions by stealing property.

“There’s over 1,800 BC Housing sites in Kamloops. This is only directed at the supportive transitional housing for our vulnerable individuals that are coming off the street. We’ve got numerous incidents of criminal behaviour. It’s not on the community to always shoulder the cost and the callouts for police, ambulance and fire trucks.”

The newly-approved motion tabled by him includes demanding weekly counselling services for marginalized people living in spaces contracted out by the province and local businesses are being encouraged to register under a new security camera program making it easier for police to access footage from possible crime scenes.

Surging crime prompts #Kamloops order for some social housing providers to have 24-7 security.
Councillor Bill Sarai says "Can you imagine 2 or 3 ambulances, fire trucks or police –with sirens on– coming to your neighbourhood 2 times a day for a whole year?" #bcpoli @NEWS1130

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) March 4, 2021

Sarai says more people are calling 9-1-1 in areas close to where marginalized people live.

“It’s getting out of hand. There was a few issues when I first ran. It’s ten-fold now. Open use of drugs and criminal behaviour, aggressive behaviour. In 2020, we had 800 emergency vehicle callouts to a two-block radius. Can you imagine two or three ambulances, fire trucks or a police officer –with sirens on– coming to your neighbourhood two times a day for a whole year?”

He tells NEWS 1130 action being taken now in Kamloops is a cry for more resources from other levels of government.

“Where is the help and where do we send individuals that seek help? We want that negative activity to stop and the only reason we see it stopping is to provide the help that those individuals are seeking, so they don’t continue in that addiction cycle.”

Sarai is also questioning why repeat offenders keep getting released.

“The courts don’t deal with it because they say it’s a health issue and when you ask the health authorities, ‘Can you help this person out?’ They say, ‘No. He’s got a charge of breaking a window. He’s got to go deal with that first. Then, we’ll help him out.’ So, that individual is just getting bounced back and forth and no one’s helping him.”

Most people in supportive housing not getting support they need, says housing operator

The operator of several supportive housing complexes in the Interior says he understands why city councillors are upset, but he believes boosting security is only a temporary fix.

Bob Hughes, CEO of the Ask Wellness Society, says a more proactive approach is needed and he wishes more consultation had been done before city council approved this motion.

“We’re going to have private security companies being paid often to sit in vehicles idling, all the while waiting to call police when there’s an issue. I really hope we can get to a place where the solutions to homelessness and addiction are done in a collaborative and coordinated way.”

He says 75 per cent of the people in social housing or shelters across B.C. are not getting the support they need.

That includes access to programs similar to what’s available in Portugal where addicts are allowed to choose mandatory recovery programs over jail time.

Hughes is also critical of Canada’s court system, saying he shares the frustration of people repeatedly calling 9-1-1 because they don’t feel safe in their own neighbourhoods.

“How is it possible this person is still back out on the street? You will be incarcerated and spend time in custody if you can’t address your addiction. You know, some people are opposed to it because it takes away people’s civil liberties. The fact is the chaoses in the streets happening right now are compromising people’s sense of security.”

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth insists these concerns are being addressed by BC Housing.

“But obviously, when there’s terms and conditions in any project, we expect them to be followed up on.”

Meanwhile, the mayor of Penticton is demanding a third-party audit of all BC Housing sites in that city.

Editor’s note: This article was updated March 4, 2021 at 11:50 a.m.