Prince George City Council is continuing to pursue options for addressing the encampments in Prince George in ways that protect the health and safety for everyone in the community. To this end, the City is continuing to seek a court injunction to remove from public property the encampments, which are known to be dangerous and unhealthy. The process to apply for a court injunction for the closure of the encampments is anticipated to take a few months.
In the meantime, Council is continuing to work with partners including the Province of BC, Northern Health, BC Housing, and Indigenous organizations. These collaborative efforts are aimed at providing more and better services in the community, including additional housing and improved services for those with mental health issues and addictions.
Recent developments:
- One of the most significant and innovative housing projects in Northern BC is now under construction on First Avenue at the former location of NR Motors. The first building phase will include 50 supportive housing units, which are expected to open in early 2022. The next phase of the project will begin soon after and include 100 units and health service supports on the site.
- BC Housing, Northern Health, and the City are collaborating on a website that highlights BC Housing’s initiatives in the community. This website, located at letstalkhousingbc.ca/prince-george, identifies approximately 160 new supportive homes underway in Prince George.
- Council has delayed a final vote on a Safe Streets Bylaw, which is intended to address aggressive panhandling, loitering, littering, sidewalk obstruction, graffiti, open drug use, and needle disposal, as well as the creation of structures, temporary shelters, and campfires on City streets and sidewalks. Final approval will now be considered on August 30.
- In April, the City opened the Community Safety Hub at 2nd and George in order to address persistent and multi-faceted social issues such as homelessness, substance use, and mental illness. The Hub facilitates coordination among service agencies and organizations such as Northern Health, BC Housing, Downtown Prince George, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, the City, and Prince George RCMP.
- BC Housing, Northern Health, and non-profit shelter operators are in the process of providing training to shelter staff and open overdose prevention spaces in the city’s shelters so that guests are able to safely use indoors, if they choose to. The overdose prevention spaces will only be available for shelter guests and will not be available for use by the public.
- In addition, these shelters have set up indoor cooling stations where people can come in off the streets during the day, hydrate, and cool down. Outreach workers are also connecting daily with people experiencing homelessness outdoors to inform them of the available community services and distribute water bottles.