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Photo Credit: Contributed
An attractive new outdoor courtyard is meant to give a safe place for the homeless while also beautifying Kelowna’s downtown.
Kelowna’s Gospel Mission (KGM) announced Wednesday that they were moving forward with the project to create a safe outdoor space for the homeless. The courtyard will be built in the lot next to the mission where a pizza place and book store used to be located. The mission has been leasing the space for some time now, and they have the owners’ permission to demolish the building and create a courtyard in its place.
Executive Director Randy Benson making the announcement at Kelowna's Gospel Mission. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
The project is a combined effort between city leaders, downtown businesses, and the mission. “We need to provide a place where our homeless can safely stay outside,” said Executive Director Randy Benson. “If you’ve been around town for very long, you’re very aware that many of the people we serve end up staying in places that quite frankly get them in trouble with the police, or with business owners, or with people who prey on the homeless.”
Mayor Colin Basran says that the courtyard will be a place for Kelowna’s homeless and those with mental health and addiction issues to have space they can call their own, as well as a community. He also said that the courtyard will help to keep the sidewalk clear for those who might be intimidated walking downtown, though he mentioned that there’s sometimes many misconceptions about the homeless and their intentions.
The lot for the outdoor courtyard is the building on the left. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
“I think that, rightly or wrongly, some people do feel like their safety is threatened, so to have a place for people to congregate makes other people in our community feel safer as well,” said Basran.
Ron Beahun is the on-street service manager for Downtown Kelowna Association, and he was extremely supportive of the project. “It will really be an advantage to the whole downtown, not just this one block,” said Beahun. “If they [the homeless] are somewhere where they should not be, at times you have to be more than security. You have to be social work, you have to be a counsellor, you have to be a friend. With that, we try to get them to go somewhere that is open.” This new courtyard will give security somewhere to suggest when asking people who are homeless to move to another area.
Mayor Colin Basran and Executive Director Randy Benson looking at the concepts for the outdoor courtyard. (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
The project is going for a permit from the City later this month, and Benson hopes to see action on the lot in July, depending on the permit and fundraising. The courtyard will have greenery, benches, and likely some shaded areas. “We’re going to make it very inviting with a lot of area for sitting,” said Benson.
The lot is 2,500 square feet, and the cost for demolition and the building of the courtyard is estimated at $80,000, or $32 per square foot. As a result, the mission is holding a funding campaign to allow people to donate for a square foot or more.
The mural in the graphic is only for representational purposes, with the final design to be developed with a local artist. (Photo Credit: Contributed)
You can donate towards the project and learn more on the KGM website.
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