Fort St. John council grapples with choosing site for unhoused

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The complexities of legislation relating to the unhoused continue to be discussed by the City of Fort St. John Council. 

During the October 15th committee of the whole, Mayor Lilia Hansen and councillors reviewed the latest staff report about ongoing research for a bylaw to manage parks and open spaces and unhoused individuals living in soft-sided shelters. 

During the presentation, Community Safety Manager Erin Ferris and Fire Chief and Director of Public Safety Robert Norton showed councillors maps of the city where unhoused individuals currently reside, including near the Walmart parking lot. 

Staff and council aim to create a bylaw that assists in managing unhoused individuals and ensures the safety of both those individuals and the community. 

The new legislation seeks to give bylaw enforcement more power to manage soft-sided shelters in the community by selecting a location in the community where such activities are not prohibited.

Tenting is not allowed within the city. However, enforcing this can be complex for unhoused individuals. Unhoused individuals do need somewhere to reside, and by designating a location where, while not legal, soft-sided shelters are not prohibited, bylaw officers can assist in relocating those individuals to that location.

The piece of land needs to be acceptable for 14 tents and outside the footprint of businesses, schools and other structures. The specific distances the tents must be from these buildings vary, and staff are continuing to define specifics as reports are made to council.

Maps of the current encampment near Walmart were discussed, and councillors discussed other possible locations throughout the city. 

Councillors agreed that the situation was complex, and selecting a location was akin to ‘picking your least favourite kid.’ 

The council agreed that staff would continue communication with unhoused individuals and narrow down a list of possible locations where both Human Rights Commission and city bylaw requirements would be met.