It’s just after 8 a.m. and the homeless camps in a tiny city park on the corner of Gordon Drive and Sutherland Avenue in Kelowna, in the Capri Mall.
It’s a scene that happens every day – a scene that is thin with neighboring businesses.
Thomas Illichmann’s shop is right across from the park. He said the neighborhood went downhill in parts because a shelter called Inn From the Cold was just up the street.
“I was threatened. I was threatened with burning down my house, destroying my business. I was threatened with needles. Some other business owners were attacked, ”said Illichmann.
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The person who was attacked is Carol Barron. She owns a dog care company right next to the shelter. She said she was attacked by a homeless man camping outside her shop.
“It scared me to death. I ran to the store and by the time I got there I was so out of breath that I almost collapsed thinking the guy was following me, ”Barron said.
No one at the Inn From The Cold Shelter was available for comment.
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Meanwhile, the homeless situation in Gordon and Sutherland has become political. Thomas Illichmann and local residents sat down with Councilor Ryan Donn on Wednesday to voice their concerns. Donn said increasing the police presence in the area could be an option.
“We have boots on site – RCMP works with the statutes – and we have received a lot of good feedback on illegal activities in the city center. So I think it’s more of a natural request for them to seek advice, ”said Donn.
There was talk of some companies moving out of the area due to growing safety concerns, but owners like Carol Barron said it should be the other way around.
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“I’m not moving. No, I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “I’m not the one who has to move. You have to move.”
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