I agree Ben.

My opinion has always been that there are too many facilities all in close proximity to each otherand all located downtown. For the most part the services they provide are vital to the homeless.

If your one of the homeless then why stray very far away from them when you only need to come back again.

I care about the homeless and I also care about our downtown, but I have no idea how to solve this problem.

I think that whoever suggested locating the "wellness centre" east of Queensway, they meant in the industrial area to the north of the Patricia Blvd escarpment. That is why the planner spoke about a poor fit with industrial land.

Unless there was also someone or more suggesting it go further south on the Queensway. I was not there. I only read the report here and in the papers and I do not think any of them mentioned that.

"I care about the homeless and I also care about our downtown, but I have no idea how to solve this problem."

Alright. I have given this some thought. Like the last 17 years I have been considering this. After much contemplation and climbing to the top of Mt. Fuji I have reacherd my conclusion.

GIVE THEM A HOME!!!!!!

A good article Ben, but in your opinion what are the solutions? It’s very easy to criticize the system and point out all its faults, but it would be nice if you posed some realistic solutions.

Limited Education, few skills and many with Addictions and Handouts from many Agencies. the City starts to remind me of East Hastings and Main, I stay away from it.

The downtown is a one stop shopping centre for every social service imaginable, are we surprised that it is the hub of the homeless, mentally ill and addicted? Like someone else said, remove the honey and the bees will go elsewhere, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

Solutions: Prince George's street problem is just one of many human problems throughout our country. The homeless are in every city along with the prostitute situation. Change is the key along with society's morals. With where society's morals have gone over the past decade, maybe it is time to have a hard look at "legalizing" prostitution with proper supervision and health regulations. Organized crime currently controls prostitution so there must be a profit involved. Maybe it could pay for itself, (except it would become a government run agency so it would then probably cost us more money). This would take one aspect of the street problem away. Some "street" people want to live on the street and have their "carefree" style of living free. As for the rest of the "street" problem we(taxpayers) are destined to pay for shelters so lets get on with it and build them with certain guidelines. Where to put them is another debate of which someone or a group will never be happy. Therefore if a "politician" makes a decision and stands by it; he/she will be forgiven as to the whereabouts is because once something is in place, we as Canadians usually accept it, we just like to make a lot of noise getting there (just look at our current governments at all levels). One person's opinion.

Bus ticket to Victoria!
Problem solved for PG, problem gets vibrantly displayed in the town our legislature is in.

They have such molder winters there that we would not have to enact the new law to force the homeless into shelter in the most extreme weather.

"milder winters"

Maybe you people should move out of town Be negative somewhere else. You don't like it move to another city . Same posts day by day yuck

We live in a time warp in PG. The rest of the world's woes are catching up to us and we are finally having to face it rather than ignoring it.

If I may get back to the obvious which we, including me, continually forget about, the major reason why we are faced with this is because those people who were helped some 40 decades ago to cope with their various psychological illnesses by providing them with a home under controlled conditions were sent on their way with a few bottles of meds that they could get renewed and were left to cope fro themselves. Sort of like an outpatient clinic system in our healthcare system.

Now, we are finally coming around to providing them with some possibly better support with housing as well as their ills.

Most of them are not lazy, but simply people that one can put into the category of "there, but for the grace of god, go I".

http://www.city.kamloops.bc.ca/pdfs/homelessness/2003/gapsandassets.pdf

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/kamloopsthisweek/opinion/60307902.html

We probably need a better understanding of what we mean by **Homeless**. I suspect that most people who congregate downtown have a home of some sort somewhere.

In order for them to get welfare they (I beleive) would have to have an address. I suspect a lot of them use the address of their familys, relatives, etc;

So if we could determine just how many homeless people we actually have, then we could begin the process of solving the problem, however that would not solve the problem of drug, prositution, aggressive pan handling etc;. I doubt if these people are homeless in the true sense of the word.

People who are legitimatly homeless (for the most part) would accept help, to be re-established in some sort of a home. The balance are basically riff, raff, that are feeding off the system, and they have to be dealt with by applying the laws that are presently on the books.

Jail time for these people would go a long way toward cleaning up the downtown.

People who live or hang out downtown and collect welfare are supplied the following services by the charities that are down there. In addition to the Health Centre, Needle Exchange, etc; they are supplied with three meals per day (free) they can get clothing once every week or so for free, and of course can buy dontated clothes very cheaply. In addition they get hampers twice a year.

A lot of these people have cell phones, smoke cigarettes, drink alchohol, and take drugs. They have no concern about where their next meal, or where their clothes will come from because it is supplied free. (Lunches on week-ends) Some people actually drive up in their pick-up trucks and take advantage of the free meals.

Some of these people also spend their money on gambling, and as suggested in previous articles a lot of them steal from the various stores to supplement their income.

So we have a plethora of people in the downtown, ranging from the legitimate **homeless** to the mentally ill, to the criminal, and the solution has to be to deal with these problems individually, rather than grouping them all into the **homeless** category.

To establish all the services for these people in one area anywhere near Third and George would solve nothing, as that is where they would congregate all day and night, and they would only go to the **service** area as and when required.

That particular area of Prince George has been a problem area since the 1940's and the best you can hope for is to get it cleaned up, remove the homeless, and put the pressure on the criminal element to leave town. Thats really not a solution because they become some other towns problem.

A constant Police presence day and night **on foot** arresting people for breaking the laws, and giving them appropriate sentences would go a long way to solving the problem. We may have recinded the vagrancy laws, however Im sure that indecent exposure, defecating in public, fornicating in public, etc; must be illegal. Im sure there are many other laws that can come into play, not the least of which would be assualt, disturbing the peace, drunk in a public place, etc;

In other words dont make it easy for them to function, and put them in jail. Worst case scenario, is that in jail they will get three meals per day, free clothes, recreation, and entertainment, and get sober, and drug free while they are there. This can hardly be considered as doing hard time, however it gets them out of the store, and the faces of customers, and allows people to walk the streets without worrying about having their throats slit.

There is no other viable solution to this problem. The Government of the day does not want all the people in jail because of the cost, and therefore leaves it up to the charties, local business, and citizens to deal with the problem so they can save some money.

We need more jails and rehab centres. The sooner the better.

Here is a local link to information on the National Homelessness Initiative program and Prince george CPAH...Community Partners Addressing Homelessness.
http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/rec_culture/grants/scpi/

Thanks Ben.
I don't mind having Brigit Moran Place and the Friendship Lodge in my neighbourhood. They are keeping these folks off the street by providing them a home. The reason why you see the homeless walking around downtown is because they kicked out at 8:00 in the morning from the shelters and they can't get back in until 8:00 at night.
I think having two housing programs in one neighbourhood is plenty. And last year, the city tried to get a bio energy plant built merely 100 meters away from a school. Of course we get cranky when the city tries to dump yet another project in the Millar Addition. Just because we reside downtown doesn't mean neighbourhoods like the Millar have to accomodate so much of the social problems. And this is not a NIMBY statement.
More jails and rehab centers is not a solution either. I agree with Gus, these folks need more homes. But not concentrated all in one neighbourhood please. I know life's not fair but come on where's the limit?

Other than opinion 250 there have been No pictures printed of this so called Health and Wellness Centre. To me it looks like a grand hotel. I do not mind helping Prince George's so called homeless but I do not want more brought into our City. We have help programs for everything even pedophiles, some drop out of treatment and some finish but do they go back to where ever they came from or do they stay in Prince George and take advatage of all our social services?? A lady at the meeting at the civic centre said you could say the same thing about someone being sent to our Hospital. The difference is they get better and go home. I do not agree with my tax dollars being spent on this money pit. I think it should be worked into the Huge Native Friendship Center. Maybe an addition on the back as there is lots of land there. I am sure they would welcome the addition and there would not be any NIMBY.

"Jail time for these people would go a long way toward cleaning up the downtown."

I think it used to be called "Debtors' Prison". Throw em in jail because they don't fit any of the respectable categories we have set aside for humans roaming the earth.

From Edmonton. Learn a little bit more about homeless and waht it means from this site.

http://www.endedmontonhomelessness.com/about-homelessness/glossary.aspx

from that site:

The key principles that distinguish a Housing First approach from other strategies include:

•An immediate and primary focus on obtaining permanent housing THAT IS NOT TIME-LIMITED.

•Varied, flexible, and responsive support services are offered around the clock, often including aggressive outreach by an ACT team (definition below).

•Access to permanent housing is not conditional upon engaging any support services, and vice versa. THE ONLY WAY PEOPLE LOSE THIER HOUSING IS BY VIOLATING THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT.

•FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, often in the form of rent subsidies, security deposits, income supports, as well as assistance with budgeting and financial literacy.

•Assistance with the development of relationships with landlords, negotiating lease agreements, paying rent on time, and searching for appropriate housing.

•Case management services help people keep their housing and become successful at improving their overall well-being and independence.

Jails, as we all know, are excellent places to provide these services, right Palopu?

I just do not know how we could have missed that obvious observation and have sent the homeless there a long time ago.

"Other than opinion 250 there have been No pictures printed of this so called Health and Wellness Centre"

It is what is called a "generic" picture. It is what such a centre might look like if it had housing associated with it.

Might as well stand on the corner of 18th and Queesnsway or 6th and Dominion and take pictures of two smaller buildings that could house such facilties as easily if the first floor or two were a bit bigger.

The city want people downtown!!!!! They want people to live downtown!!!!!!! They are not gettign UNBC to build a residence. They are not getting anyone to build fancy $350,000+ condos to downtown.

They missed the boat to have the gateway's assisted living units built on the 4th and Victoria site and build the RCMP station in the gateway isntead!!!!!!

Let's face it, the City misses too many obvious boats.

So, last resort, house the homeless downtown.

Palopu wrote: "as suggested in previous articles a lot of them steal from the various stores to supplement their income."

For those who are into stealing from stores, they are pretty stupid to do it downtown. I am sure that they do, but they get better results in the suburban shopping places.

Ted Moffat is quoted as saying he loses $100,000/year from shoplifting. Not burglaries, shoplifting.

For those who are not familiar with "shrinkage" in inventory at stores in North America, the average is close to 2%. Of that, it is estimated that almost half is from employee "theft" (46%). 32% is from shoplifting. The remainder is from system or employee error.

Perhaps someone who knows could give us a bit of an idea of how much inventory gets lost during burglaries of stores; how much through to shoplifting in suburban stores and how much from downtown stores.

I have no doubt in saying that for the simple reason that there are by far more retail spaces outside of the downtown area, that area has, by a wide margin, the highest total value of inventory which is shoplifted.

I would not be surprised if the rate per square foot of retail space or rate per annual sales is greater in non-downtown retail.

So who shoplifts in those non-downtown retail stores? The scum? Sure! If that is what you call shoplifters, then the suburban shoplifters are also the scum of the earth, living in 2,000 sf houses, driving $40,000+ crew cabs, snortin' white powder, looking for some excitement.

One group does not have the ability to hide themselves in the mainstream of society. The other does, so we do not talk about them.

If downtown shoplifting is a problem, what has and is Downtown PG doing about it? What are the figures they have for the extent of the problem? Do they do anything in this area? Are they helping to protect the stores in their area the same as a mall manager would?

I feel bad for Mr. Moffat, losing $100K a year in shoplifitng. We all end up paying for it through increased costs.

I'm amazed he didn't move his store out of the downtown long ago. I would have.

I don't understand how making an addition onto the Native Friendship Centre would work. There are lots of businesses in that area. Wasn't the idea to move services away from the business district?

I admire the Pastry Chef bakery for putting up with what occurs every day!

We don't stop there anymore since a drunk staggered up to the curb, exposed himself and urinated on a parked vehicle (with people, some of them children, in it) - all in broad daylight!

Sorry. The whole area needed to be designated a NO LOITERING zone years ago.

Oh, I forget: Loitering, vagrancy and soliciting are not against any laws anymore!

Welcome to downtown Anythinggoesville!

I think the downtown has been distroyed and I can't see it ever being the same. The problem is its taking the surounding neighbourhoods with it, on Ross cres last week a guy was trying to get into the back door of a home ,when he could not he went around to the frount, the good news is they got him, how much don't we hear? Driveing past the Frindship Lodge on Queensway today 2 Hookers were walking the street both White one lives in the Frindship Lodge both are middle aged and have LOTS of help from all are service providers, but there they are. God helps those who help themselves. I am sick of my money going to people who do not want help.

"I don't understand how making an addition onto the Native Friendship Centre would work. There are lots of businesses in that area. Wasn't the idea to move services away from the business district?"

I think the idea that is there now was to move it away from the RETAIL areas, not the business areas.

So, we move it away from retail
then where

we move it away from business
then where

we move it away from light industrial (which, btw, is busisness)
then where

we move it away from residential
then where

we move it away from institutional (hospitals, shools, churches, jails, etc.)
then where

you tell us please.

There is a book store accross the street from the NFC, that is the only retail. There is a bowling alley and there is a restaurant.

Having services consolidated at the NFC, is not going to move anyone off George and Third, in my opinion. That hangout will remain for a long time.

I challenge a reporter to find out where all of these additional homeless, street people have come from? I would like to suggest that the folks from Victoria (politicians) and their friends from Vancouver have embarked on a program to move many homeless and possibly mentally ill people to Prince George and surrounding communities. All in the attempt to clean up Vancouver for the Winter Olympics.

Our social safety net is overwhelmed & overloaded. I know that St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army are inundated with additional people that have moved into our community. Where did they come from and who sent them here?

If our BC Government sent them, send some money to not only house them, but also to feel them.

Our problems downtown have only been exponentially expanded because of these extra people added to our already challenging downtown situation.

Hasn't anyone noticed?

"Hasn't anyone noticed?"

If there is such a change, then those who provide the services would be the one who would not only notice but also have a pretty good idea of where the people come from.

Remember, we have been in a recessions for some time. We are in the centre of of many small communities that are dependent on forestry and its associated supply industries. Those small communities have been hit harder than PG on a percentage basis. If there is anyone that is moving to this community because people might think there are job opportunities here or that we have the services available to help people out in the times of need, it would be people form those communities, I would think.

It should not be rocket science to figure that out and verify it one way or another.

It does seem that there needs to be honest talk about who the homeless are. They are not all criminals, and they are not all mentally ill. I would suggest that there are very few homeless people who moved here looking for work.
Before people fall all over themselves suggesting these are just people who fell on hard times i would remind you all that there is such a thing as welfare. If you register, it will come. If you get it, you can rent from me (many people do). And you can stay off the streets. So no sob stories about folks who have lost their jobs.
If you are mentally ill we as a society ought to take care of you. How to do this without some form of institutionalization is beyond me. If you are a drug addict or alcoholic, then you are a drug addict or alcoholic and there is little success to be expected in providing you with a 'lease' for crash space. You are not going to respect it and it will turn into a slum. If you are a runaway you ought to be rescued, not given an address from which to be abused. If you are a criminal, an illegal or just homeless by choice, we owe you nothing at all, certainly not a home.
That being said, fly at er and figure out where to house the mentally ill that need it.