COMMITMENT TO HELP HOMELESS REINFORCED BY REGIONAL
DISTRICT

More emphasis will now be placed on helping the homeless in the
Central Okanagan.

Regional district chairman Robert Hobson said drug policy coordinator
Christene Walsh's role is being expanded this year to address
homelessness issues.

"It was part of the Four Pillars project anyway, but it wasn't where
the focus has been," said Hobson.

"Christene Walsh has really been focusing on the drug service issues,
detox and other things. She's now going to spend some of her time
looking on the homeless issues as well."

Hobson said Walsh would become a full-time employee in August, as
opposed to a part-time contractor, to reflect her increased role.

Hobson said it made sense for Walsh to tackle homelessness along with
drug prevention.

"A lot of good things have been achieved in the drug area, so there is
(need) we feel for part of her work to go into the homelessness area.

"There's a very close connection between homelessness issues and drug
and dependency issues in any event."

Hobson said the board's decision to hire Walsh full-time would fulfill
the first of 28 recommendations in a regional drug strategy, called
the Central Okanagan Framework for Action, which was completed by the
Central Okanagan Four Pillars Coalition in May 2005.

The coalition is comprised of about three-dozen community-based
service agencies, which are attempting to find solutions related to
substance use and abuse in the Central Okanagan.

In addition to hiring a drug policy coordinator, the strategy also
recommended urban renewal initiatives, improved needle drop box
services, a youth shelter and drop in centre, support of methadone
treatment programs, increased capacity in youth, adult and aboriginal
addictive services, an RCMP special projects team, expansion of
low-income housing projects, funding for supportive recovery housing,
public health outreach and public education.

Walsh has been working with the four pillars initiative for three
years.