Homelessness crisis will get worse, advocates say, amid changes at Kelownas tent city – Okanagan [Video]

As remediation work continued at Kelowna, B.C.’s, homeless encampment along the Okanagan Rail Trail for the second day, the city announced more sweeping changes for the tent city and the roughly 90 people sheltering there.

“It’s at a point where we believe it’s time for a change to try and do better with what we have,” said Kevin Mead, bylaw services manager for the City of Kelowna.

The city-designated outdoor sheltering site, north of the downtown core, will soon take up a smaller footprint.

Tent sizes will be reduced from the current 12 by 12 feet to eight by eight feet and there will only be 60 tents on site, which will be assigned to individuals.

According to the city, the site will operate more like an indoor shelter with more rules and within a controlled environment.

The other major change the city has announced is the site will no longer be open …