Kelowna’s new ‘homeless advisor’ needs three years to form strategy

The City of Kelowna has hired a social development manager, a new position that is hoped to help solve the homeless problem.

But frontline street workers say the problem can’t wait the three years it is expected to take to create solutions.

Outreach workers Global Okanagan spoke to said the number of homeless people on Kelowna streets has tripled in last three years.

Sue Wheeler said she plans to bring a strategy for studying Kelowna’s homeless problem to council in November.

“There’s a lot of collaborative, good work going on, so the job I have is to get to know the people providing the services and … help strengthen the relationships and the ability to work even more collaboratively,” Wheeler said.