Council imposes new restrictions on tent city

MERRITT – Merritt’s tent city is having new restrictions put into place as city council has passed a new bylaw amendment.

After a four to one (Melvina White opposed) council decision, tents in N’Kwala Park will only be allowed to be pitched from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. daily, due to the increasing amount of homelessness throughout the city.

“According to the recent Homeless counts conducted by the Province, homelessness in Merritt increased between 2018, which detected 11 people who were unhoused, and 2020, which found 43 unhoused people, 26% of whom were sleeping outside, and 6% in a makeshift shelter or tent,” wrote Greg Lowis, Director of Corporate Services.

The common concern that arose during council was the issue of how to enforce these new restrictions, with the answering coming more in the way of support and encouragement than administration.

“This isn’t something where we will jump in with RCMP and Bylaws tomorrow morning without a little more conversation about it,” said Sean Smith, Chief Administrative Officer. “Even when I say enforcement its going to be support and encouragement and try to have the softest possible touch with it.”

For those setting up tents in the park another issue that council thought of was the sanitation and the use of washrooms which Smith presented the option of using the bathrooms in Lions park.

Smith also mentioned these new restrictions would go into effect starting Monday, May 30^th in order to give the residents enough time to adjust and get prepared.