The Lift Effect on Powell River
The biggest issue on my mind, and on the minds of the majority of those that I’ve spoken with, is the excessive open drug use, the crime and chaos surrounding it, and the effect that is having on our community. I believe the concerns surrounding the Lift developments are centrally connected to that and several other issues we are facing.
Our budget is affected. Cleanup and repairs following incidents often become the City’s responsibility. Repeated calls involving overdoses, fires, disturbances, thefts and public drug use place additional demands on emergency services. Ambulance costs don’t come directly from the City’s budget, they are paid for through our provincial health-care system, but one way or another, the public pays for all of these costs.
Property owners are affected. The more widespread these issues become, the more our quaint little town loses its charm, and our property values will go down accordingly. That’s a loss each household will feel individually.
Businesses are affected. Shoplifting has become so serious that several business owners have stated they might not be able to stay open if another supportive housing building is opened. Additionally, there are many people who simply don’t feel safe walking from one business to the next if that path leads through certain areas.
Families are affected. I’ve talked to several people whose kids don’t feel comfortable getting off at the bus stop at the mall and walking to where their parents work because they would have to walk past one of the buildings and the activity outside of it.
Our homes and belongings are affected. People are frequently reporting thefts from their houses, vehicles and yards all hours of the day, even broad daylight. No one should have to be concerned about theft, vandalism or feeling unsafe within their own homes or on their own property.
These effects are not separate from one another, and they aren’t even a complete list. If we are going to make responsible decisions about adding more supportive housing, we need to ensure the model being used won’t continue to negatively affect the community like it has been.
How these facilities are filled is vitally important. Blackberry Creek is permanent supportive housing, and as such is included in BC Housing’s province-wide Supportive Housing Registry. People seeking supportive housing apply to the registry, and authorized BC Housing staff or approved housing providers can use that to let suitable applicants know when and where a room is available. I have not found a definitive answer to how they get here from there, so can’t speak to that. However, there have been accounts from those sheltering in the woods that they’ve come to Powell River from other communities and have left Blackberry Creek due to the drug use and chaos within.
Beds at Driftwood, however, are not filled using the registry. They operate on a first-come-first-serve basis, but similar accounts have come from people who have stayed there. For them, the woods are more peaceful.
I believe this has created a revolving door of people coming for shelter, only to find it isn’t suitable for them, and due to the high costs of getting back home they find refuge in the woods. More people arrive; more people find alternate sleeping arrangements. Granted, not everyone in the woods fits that model, there is no one singular reason, but it plays a role.
Finally, for people who came to Powell River from somewhere else and now feel stranded and want to return to a community where they have family, support or better treatment options, the City should pursue a voluntary return program. Transportation should be provided after confirming that the person wants to leave and has somewhere safe and appropriate to go.
The cost of helping someone voluntarily return to an actual support network may be far less than repeatedly responding through police, fire, ambulance, hospital and other emergency services. Also, it benefits everyone involved. The person being relocated receives better support while reducing pressure on the community.
