City of Kelowna adds fencing, security patrols around homeless encampment

The City of Kelowna is adding fencing and 24/7 security patrols to a homeless encampment along the Okanagan Rail Trail at the north end of the community's downtown.

The work, in addition to a semi-annual clean up of the site, is expected to be done by the end of the week.

About 80 to 90 people use the site, which has been a designated outdoor sleeping spot since May 2021, when it was set up to discourage people from using other city parks and public spaces.

But the city has heard from vulnerable people that they are afraid to use the camp due to violence and criminal activity "that take place when security [and] enforcement personnel are not present," bylaw services manager Kevin Mead said at a news conference Wednesday.

The addition of fencing at both ends of the camp, as well as the new security patrols, demonstrate that the city takes the safety of people without shelter seriously, he said.

"We are exercising compassion and employing trauma-informed practices wherever possible."

The news came as crews began a camp clean up that takes place in the spring and summer, aimed at rehabilitating the area, clearing out unused items and removing any weapons that are found.

Cassidy Anderson, who was sheltering at the site, said RCMP and bylaw officers came in without notice in the morning and started telling people to clear out.

"They just, like, bombarded everyone," she said, adding she was eating breakfast in her tent when she was told to hurry up because she and other residents had to leave to make way for the cleaning.

"They took a knife, cut my tent open, my dog's barking," she said. In frustration, she said, she tossed her cereal bowl and was charged with assault, with her dog and possessions taken away.

Mead wouldn't comment on any specific cases, but said the city did not provide an exact time operations would begin in order to avoid disruptions.

He said the public is being prevented from accessing the site while work is underway in order to provide safety and privacy.

He said shelters in use are not being dismantled and that aside from prohibited items, everyone should have access to their property once the cleanup is complete.