The issue of homelessness isnsa国际传媒檛 just splashed across Itsa国际传媒檚 a reality we are increasingly being exposed to on all fronts.

The Linear Park homeless camp has helped in that regard sa国际传媒� bringing the homeless out of the shadows of Polson Park and into broad daylight on busy 25th Avenue.

But that is a positive thing because itsa国际传媒檚 bringing more attention to the issue.

sa国际传媒淭hey moved to a place that was a lot more public so I think itsa国际传媒檚 shocking to see whatsa国际传媒檚 happening,sa国际传媒� said Annette Sharkey with the Social Planning Council. sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 agreement throughout the community, whether you have empathy for the homeless population or maybe anger towards the homeless population, the agreement is this isnsa国际传媒檛 OK.

sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 a feeling now of we cansa国际传媒檛 ignore this. Itsa国际传媒檚 not hidden.sa国际传媒�

So while City of Vernon camping bylaws have done nothing to decrease the number of homeless individuals, they have brought more light to the issue.

What is needed to help our fellow citizens who are cast out in the cold is supportive housing.

sa国际传媒淚f we had more supportive housing, we would be able to bring people in from the outside, give them a chance to stabilize and then be able to move on with their lives as they have more programming and supports,sa国际传媒� said Sharkey, adding that there are approximately 470 supportive housing beds in Vernon. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not actually a complicated issue. Theresa国际传媒檚 very straightforward solutions but really what that calls for is funding.sa国际传媒�

Modular housing is one option, although Vernon is not currently identified as one of the communities to be included in such a program in B.C.

But thatsa国际传媒檚 because Vernon isnsa国际传媒檛 the only community struggling.

sa国际传媒淭his (homelessness) is a B.C.-wide problem,sa国际传媒� said Starkey. sa国际传媒淭hat is partly why we have to be patient with these announcements.sa国际传媒�

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