Pubdate: Thu, 08 Dec 2005
Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact: http://209.115.237.105/kelowna/publish/include/letterToEditor.php
Website: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531
Author: Chuck Poulsen

ADDICT HOUSING CAUSING A STIR

No one will call them battle plans, but opposing forces in the debate 
over a downtown apartment block for drug addicts and homeless are 
"marshalling forces."

On Tuesday, downtown property owners attended a closed-door session 
of about 75 people, ending with a call for a moratorium on the 
30-suite building on St. Paul Street.

On Wednesday, members of the Four Pillars Coalition and the Kelowna 
Homelessness Steering Committee were involved in separate strategy sessions.

One document being circulated by the John Howard Society was entitled 
"breaking down barriers."

"First and foremost, proponents must be better organized than the 
opposition -- start with education," said the document.

It continued on with suggestions for organizing a campaign, including 
use of the media.

It concluded: "Remember, you cannot kill a good idea."

Ian Graham, a former banker who heads the homelessness steering 
committee, said he attended last Thursday's meeting called by 
downtown property owners as well as Tuesday night's meeting.

"I was familiar with many of the faces in the room," said Graham. 
"Many of the statements that were made (Thursday), I was disappointed 
in, but I understood where they were coming from.

"Last night's affair was much more organized than last Thursday," 
said Graham. "There was much more sober thought and a recognition 
that if they weren't going to make headway with vinegar then they 
would have to make it with reason.

"They have the ability to be well organized."

Graham said there isn't time for alternative plans.

"We are in support of the project because the city needs the 
project," said Graham. "The city has 420 homeless people on the 
streets, and that number is more than a year old," he said.

He suggested a figure of 525 homeless may be more accurate today.

"We are in agreement with the project at the place the project has 
been located because we need the project tomorrow," said Graham.

"We don't need it five years from now. We don't need it at the KSS 
site and the suggestion that it would take eight years."

The proposed building would be open in the fall of 2007.

He agreed both sides are marshalling forces, but thinks there is 
still an opportunity for a resolution that would make both groups happy.

"I still think there is room for amicability and both sides to 
explain their positions," he said. "I think there's room for IH to 
explain the details of the project. There are some misunderstandings 
of the nature of the project.

"We can just rationally explain that in other areas, these facilities work."

The city is hosting an open house on the project 4-8 p.m. tonight at 
the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman