B.C. minister acknowledges concerns at supportive housing site

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon is acknowledging safety concerns at a Kelowna, B.C. supportive housing facility after a group of neighbours compiled a video showing people allegedly connected with the site yelling, fighting and engaging in other disruptive behaviour. 

Stephen Village is a 51-unit facility on Agassiz Road in a residential neighbourhood near the city's downtown that opened in the summer of 2020.

The building is a "housing first supportive housing project that supports individuals with diverse needs, including homelessness, mental health concerns, and substance misuse," and offers "permanent, affordable housing to the most vulnerable while providing appropriate embedded supports," according to the John Howard Society of Okanagan and Kootenay (JHSOK), which operates the provincially-funded facility.

Video highlights safety concerns

However, a video compiled by some neighbours shows a series of encounters and disturbances on the street and sidewalk near Stephen Village.

The video is part of a petition by neighbours called Change Stephen Village that blames the supportive housing building and some of its residents for a drastic increase in noise, street violence, crime and open drug use in the neighbourhood.

"The area has become a hot spot for groups to congregate. These groups will stay for days, using drugs and loitering in the alley behind Stephen Village at the corner of Agassiz and Vasile Rd," the petition reads. 

Tyler Zeeman, a member of the group that wrote the petition, told CBC News he and his neighbours have made repeated calls to the building manager, the city's bylaw department and the RCMP over the past few years, but he said the disruptions continue to happen.

"We hear fights all hours of the day, screaming all hours of the night," Zeeman said. 

He pointed to a 'good neighbour commitment' policy on the operator's website and says it's clear to him and his neighbours the policy is not being enforced.

"I get woken up probably three or four times a week by their residents screaming, yelling and fighting."

'Residents in the neighbourhood are just fed up'

The petition is calling on the provincial government to change the operating model of Stephen Village to a drug-free facility that focuses on addiction recovery.

"Residents in the neighbourhood are just fed up and want to see a change," Zeeman said.

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon acknowledged residents' concerns during an announcement in Kelowna for an unrelated supportive housing project on Monday.

According to Kahlon, most supportive housing sites operating in B.C. fit well into their neighbourhoods, with few reported problems.

Security camera and environmental changes

"When issues do arise, we do try to engage with the not-for-profit provider to try and find if there are additional measures that we can put in place to create greater safety. In this case BC Housing is doing this engagement."

Kahlon did not say what specific measures B.C. Housing is considering to address issues related to Stephen Village.

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, who was also asked about the situation on Monday, offered some possible solutions and said he recently toured the neighbourhood with the RCMP.

"We have implemented a CEPTED [process] (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). What can we do through environmental design to make it safer?" Dyas said.

The city is also looking at using security cameras in the neighbourhood to improve bylaw and RCMP response to disturbances, Dyas said. 

The street layout near Stephen Village, with a tree-shaded cul-de-sac adjacent to a mall parking lot, was also flagged as a factor contributing to challenges in the area.

"Like our neighbours, we are frustrated with the loitering, the occasional aggression, and the outright refusal of some to engage respectfully," the John Howard Society of Okanagan and Kootenay said in a statement emailed to CBC News by executive director Patricia Bacon.

"JHSOK has been highly engaged in keeping the neighbourhood calm and safe."

Bacon has not agreed to an interview.

The statement lists a number of ways the society is working to deal with disruptive behaviour including calling bylaw officers and the RCMP, reminding Stephen Village residents of their responsibilities and picking up garbage near the building.

"Like any landlord, activities in nearby parks, street corners, and cul-de-sacs are not and never were within the jurisdictional responsibilities of JHSOK," the statement reads.

"We are imploring neighbours to please direct your concerns to the City of Kelowna bylaw services or RCMP."

As for Tyler Zeeman, he's encouraged the city and province are finally responding publicly to residents concerns, but he said those promises will hold little weight if the yelling, fighting and open drug use continue on the streets. 

"We all need to live together and make this a better neighbourhood," Zeeman said.