Community support table third of its kind in the province

PENTICTON – Plans to create a support network for Penticton’s homeless and disadvantaged took major steps forward recently.

Penticton RCMP Superintendent Ted De Jager said at a press conference today, July 25, the newly formed Community Active Support Table has held its first meeting.

The group also received word late last week the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced a $50,000 grant to support Penticton’s support table, which will be the third such group operating in B.C.

De Jager said the intention behind the community support is to start to look at those in the community with “acutely elevated risk of vulnerability."

Social services, RCMP, Ministry of Housing, Interior Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children and Family Development, in addition to Penticton community agencies all have seats at the table, De Jager said, adding the goal is to assist many of the people citizens see on the street.

“An example often cited is that of a young, single mom who is arrested shoplifting at the grocery store. The reason is she doesn’t have a job or home and needs to put food on the table. Police aren’t the solution to that, we’re involved because we arrested her, but the solution is housing, social support and services. By having all those people around the table, we can do that,” De Jager said.

The group is planning to meet again in the latter half of August, when a two-day training session will be followed by the “go live” date.

“Our intent is to get all partner agencies going on this,” De Jager said, adding police will have a list of referrals of those most in need ready by then.

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