Homelessness
Kelowna has a substantial number of people who are currently living without access to housing and are falling victim to serious drug addiction and/or suffering from untreated mental health issues. We need compassionate solutions to help those struggling through homelessness, drug addiction, & mental health challenges while ensuring that our neighbourhoods, businesses, & public spaces are safe. Council can continue targeted support efforts for unhoused people who seek out voluntary care through coordinated outreach services and transitional housing solutions with the province's HEART & HEARTH program and modular tiny-home units. About 1/3 of unhoused people can be rehoused with these supports, however the other 2/3 who are facing more serious mental illness and/or addiction require greater intervention. I will continue to push the provincial government to establish a compassionate mandatory campus of care at the near-empty Oliver correction center, and advocate for criminal justice reforms designed to help treat the 2/3 of unhoused people strugelling with addiction and/or mental health issues, and ensure the safety of our communities.
Liveability
The quality of life for people in Kelowna depends largely on good infrastructure. However the growth of the city has outpaced our infrastructure and created challenges for those seeking affordable housing at less than 30% of their income, and for commuters who experience frequent traffic congestion. In order for Kelowna to be liveable for all we need to support developments where there are adequate transportation options and services to support them. Part of the SMARTer Growth planning framework involves the support of coordinated, connected, complete, and compact communities. Diverse housing and gentle densification in neighbourhoods can help meet the needs of prospective renters and home buyers where there is affordable and efficient transit and cycling infrastructure. Investments in infrastructure can be directed towards making the city more livable for current and future residents by suporting regional transportation initiatives to create a greater amount of high-capacity inter-city mobility choice. Liveability affects the lives of all Kelowna residents, and by making sure our development projects are supported by infrastructure, we can grow responsibly.
