The City of Penticton’s Public Safety Advisory Committee has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a proposal to bring up to 50 tiny homes to the city’s industrial park to help address Penticton’s longstanding challenges with homelessness.
Following a 45-minute presentation from development manager Blake Laven and Julie Czeck, general manager of public safety and partnerships, outlining why senior staff support issuing a temporary use permit (TUP) for the project, the 11-member committee engaged in a one-hour debate over the pros and cons of the transitional housing proposal.
At the end of the discussion, the committee voted 8–2 in favour of proceeding with the TUP to allow the project to move forward.
The provincial government has agreed to provide millions of dollars in funding through its Heart and Hearth program, which includes paying for up to 50 homes as well as offering treatment and counselling services to residents for up to three years.
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After a similar presentation to city council on Nov. 4, council supported a motion by Coun. Campbell Watt to defer any final decision on the project until Dec. 2. The majority of councillors requested more information from the province and additional public input before making a final decision.
Laven and Czeck told PSAC at a special meeting Wednesday afternoon that Penticton is on a short list to receive “millions of dollars in funding” to build the tiny home subdivision at the intersection of Okanagan Avenue E. and Dartmouth Ave. in the industrial park. The space is presently a dog park.
An amendment to the motion of support included a requirement for a 24-hour safety and security plan as the project moves forward.
The development would offer wraparound services, including counselling and treatment programs for residents, a dining hall, laundry facilities, and secure fencing.
Laven and Czeck also spoke about their recent visit to a 60-unit tiny home site in Kelowna, similar to what’s proposed for Penticton, noting they were impressed by its layout, design, program success, and community support.
Committee member Scott Jacobsen praised the thoroughness of the staff report.
“I want to acknowledge that this is one of those projects that’s polarizing,” he said. “That makes it hard to stay focused.”
Jacobsen said he supports the proposal partly because of the success of Penticton’s temporary winter shelter, which opened about a year ago in the industrial park and coincided with a reduction in police calls and crime.
He added that while he understands some business owners have had negative experiences with crime related to homelessness, both realities can coexist.
“This proposal is a direct response to the Fairview encampment, public safety, and health,” he said. “It’s not a perfect or complete solution, but it’s a step forward.”
Jacobsen credited strong collaboration between the City of Penticton, Interior Health, and BC Housing in developing solutions.
“A lot of work has gone into setting this up for success,” he said. “I would hate to see that opportunity lost.”
When asked why the city isn’t using property it owns on Skaha Lake Road, Laven explained that the site is earmarked for a 600-unit affordable housing complex near Green Avenue, and three of the five motels there are already occupied.
“We did look at that site,” he said, “but there were several reasons we didn’t go with it, including its proximity to commercial corridors and nearby schools.”
Czeck warned that if council rejects the TUP, Penticton could lose its eligibility for funding.
“Homelessness is not unique to Penticton,” she said. “If council doesn’t approve, there’s a very real chance that funding will disappear, and there’s no guarantee when -- or if -- we’ll be eligible again.”
Laven added that the Heart and Hearth program provides not only funding for the homes, but also additional staff and services to support local homelessness initiatives.
“This program comes with millions in provincial assistance,” he said. “It even adds two BC Housing support workers dedicated specifically to Penticton.”
He noted the city has been advocating for this funding for months and warned that “the province is losing patience,” as other communities are eager to accept the offer.
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Committee member Loki Croft shared her personal experience with homelessness a decade ago.
“It was social services like this that helped me reintegrate into society,” she said. “I can’t think of anything more fundamental in my recovery than programs like this.”
Croft said providing housing and services to 50 residents would give them stability and access to the supports they need.
Committee member Cherry Fernandez said the inclusion of on-site programs and services was key to her support.
“It’s far scarier for me, as a mom of two young girls, to see open drug use in public,” she said. “I’d rather know there’s an investment in supports to help people get where they need to be.”
Jeff Leonard, who abstained from voting as he owns property not far from the site, noted he had recently seen similar projects in Nanaimo and was impressed by their cleanliness and security.
“There are pros and cons, but if I could vote, I’d probably say yes,” he said.
Committee member Alex Waddington was the only one who strongly opposed. He said he cannot support a project that allows residents to use drugs, which is part of the province’s harm reduction approach.
“I don’t understand why we’re even considering another wet facility,” he said. “The fallout from these buildings is chaotic.”
Waddington described finding discarded harm reduction materials in his neighbourhood and argued the city should focus instead on secure mental health facilities.
“It feels like Penticton is becoming a dumping ground for BC Housing,” he said.
He also questioned whether new affordable housing would align with local job opportunities.
“Our main focus should be a mental health unit with a lockdown ward to address the most severe cases first,” he said.
Committee member Holly Wakeman disagreed, saying rejecting the project would be a mistake.
“We’ll lose more as a city if we turn this down,” she said. “Grants like this are hard to get. If we say no, another city will take it—and we’ll be at the back of the line.”
Committee member Michael Magnusson, manager of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, said from a business standpoint, closing the Fairview encampment is essential.
“Nearly $100 million is generated annually through meetings and conventions, and over 10 per cent of our workforce is in hospitality,” he said. “That’s at risk if Fairview stays.”
He explained that to legally shut down the encampment, the city must first prove it has enough shelter spaces.
“If this isn’t operated properly, the city can revoke the rezoning and lease,” he said, adding that there will never be a perfect location for a project like this, but it’s “a step in the right direction.”
Talks about mental health facilities, Magnusson noted, are under provincial jurisdiction and would take years to materialize.
“Not supporting this is scarier than supporting it,” he said.
Waddington reiterated he would support the project if it had zero tolerance for drug use. Magnusson countered that Penticton already has one “dry” facility, which is often underused as many residents reintegrate quickly.
“Another dry facility seems redundant,” he said.
Near the end of the debate, Leonard again voiced his support.
“It’s a step forward—a piece of the puzzle,” he said. “It’s not the whole puzzle.”
The 8-2 vote was opposed only by Waddington and James Palanio, who felt there was a need for more consultation. Leonard abstained from voting.
Mayor Julius Bloomfield and councillors Ryan Graham, Shannon Stewart, and Campbell Watt attended Wednesday’s PSAC meeting. (Couns. Isaac Gilbert and Jason Reynen were not present.)
A public information session on the tiny homes project is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre beginning at 5 p.m.
