Williams Lake Council Looking into Designating a Specific Site to Allow Overnight Homeless Encampments

Williams Lake is set to join other communities by attempting to designate a specific site to allow overnight homeless encampments.

Council voted in favour of the measure at last night’s regular meeting, with a site behind Boitanio Mall being brought forward for consideration.

Under current legislation, communities are required to allow camping on public property when adequate indoor shelter space is not available.

But by designating a specific location to allow camping, communities can take more control over where the camps pop up.

If a site is selected, those experiencing homelessness would be able to set up camps overnight, but would need to remove them the next morning.

Last month saw the City tear down four separate homeless encampments, including two located near the Mall in Boitanio Park.