Councillor Bolin to propose housing and homeless committee

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — During the July 8th regular meeting, councillor Trevor Bolin gave a notice of motion that would request council to form a housing and homeless committee at their next meeting. 

The committee would work with local providers and B.C.’s Ministry of Housing to determine what is and is not allowed in provincial mandates. 

Bolin believes it is a good time for council to have a two-person committee to get information, create solutions, and answer the public’s concerns. 

“I feel we need a single streamline committee that can be in the know,” said Bolin. “We have a lot of concern, fear, and anger in the community.” 

Bolin and councillor Sarah MacDougall would reside on the committee.

During the latest Council Corner episode, Bolin said Councillor MacDougall has vast experience in the science side and health inspection.

Bolin says he received pushback last year in the fall from the human rights commissioner in the Lower Mainland and was told the city would need to offer a solution. 

“Well, what is that solution? Where could it go? What could we do with it? We need to be able to do that,” Bolin said.

During the meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Milo MacDonald said the city has engaged with the community and non-profits and received a provincial grant to start a situation table.

Council also said a situation table is ongoing with plans to move forward that require training for non-profits in the fall.

The councillor has also requested updates on a bylaw to see “soft-sided camping equipment” like tents banned from overnight use in public parks and on commercially zoned property.

Bolin says soft-sided camping should have been banned long ago, but nobody had the foresight to see the developing issue. 

The bylaw is expected to come forward within the upcoming council meetings.