Wayyyyyy Too Many Committees

Tackling the homeless situation in cities is tough.
But I'm convinced adding one or two--or five--new committees to discuss the issue is a waste of time.

All these committees "study" the issue, and end up coming back with the same opinion(s) that the elected mayor and council considered...so round and round they all go.

The following quotation is  Castanet's take on Vernon City Council's meeting...count the number of committees that are studying this problem:

"It took about an hour for the list of recommendations created by the Activate Safety Task Force to be read at the Monday afternoon City of Vernon council meeting.

There were eight recommendations all explaining possible solutions to issues that plague downtown Vernon.
Most of the issues brought up were in some way related to Vernon's street entrenched population.
Annette Sharkey, executive director of Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan, along with the Partners in Action Committee  have been following the process of the Activate Safety Taskforce very closely and have looked at the recommendations put forward.
"The driving force of the organization [Social Planning Council] is the Partners in Action Committee who problem solve, set up action teams and then follow through on solutions," she says, adding that she understands why downtown businesses are frustrated.
"The Partners in Action Committee understands the fear, anger and frustration that some local businesses have experienced as a result of the lack of shelter beds and the need for more treatment and recovery programs."
"It is not okay that people are forced to sleep in alleys and doorways or that businesses have to clean up feces and garbage every morning."
Sharkey wants to see more longterm solutions to Vernon's housing crisis.
"Due to the urgency of the current situation, the Activate Safety Taskforce focused on immediate concerns and the role of enforcement in the community," she said. "The Partners in Action Committee works closely with the Bylaw Department and the RCMP through the COOL Team (Camp Okanagan Outreach Liaison Team) and knows that there is a huge demand on enforcement services."

"If more resources are put into enforcement, we will continue to work closely with these officers."
One recommendation to council by the Activate Safety Taskforce was regarding public washrooms.
Both the Partners in Action Committee and the Activate Safety Taskforce agree that safer public washrooms are needed in the downtown area.
"The Partners in Action Committee has long been an advocate for more public washrooms in the downtown core and have been equally frustrated by the vandalism with our current location," Sharkey said. "The current washrooms were meant to be a temporary measure so new washrooms with a redesign focused on security would be welcome."
Washrooms with an open top, bottom and blacklight was recommended to council.
The Partners in Action Committee hopes there will be more open communication between downtown businesses and the service providers.
"Immediate strategies are needed to support local businesses and non-profits in the downtown core," Sharkey said. "Working closely with the Bylaw Department and RCMP, addressing the lack of public washrooms, promoting the services of the Community Safety Office and providing a communications bridge between frustrated businesses and service providers are all valuable strategies. "
To date, Partners in Action has focused on longer-term solutions.
"More shelter beds and affordable housing as this is ultimately how we will resolve the crisis permanently," Sharkey says.
Turning Points Collaborative will open a new modular 46-bed shelter this summer and a 52 unit supported housing apartment in the winter of 2019.
The Social Planning Council has arranged a presentation from Interior Health to City Council on July 23 to provide information and updates on current strategies and to answer any follow-up questions."


So...how many?

Partners in Action
Turning Points Collaborative
Social Planning Council
Activate Safety Taskforce
Bylaw Department
RCMP
COOL team 
Community Safety Office

Eight!  EIGHT!

oh, yes...and the Mayor and Councillors.