Homelessness Initiatives

This proposal was part of a broader effort to address the encampment and homelessness in Penticton and provide safe, supported housing to people who need it most.

The City has been actively advocating for HEART & HEARTH with the Penticton Indian Band for many months, including multiple public letters to senior government partners calling for coordinated housing solutions and enhanced support services. This proposal reflects the outcome of that sustained advocacy and ongoing collaboration.

Heart and Hearth is the Province’s homelessness and encampment response program which includes funding for temporary housing and other wraparound supports for a period of 3-5 years.

The program is designed to respond to homelessness by providing coordinated support and temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness.

• HEART (Homeless Encampment Action Response Teams) delivers multi-disciplinary outreach and health services.
• HEARTH (Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing) funds temporary housing solutions to help transition people indoors.

The City of Penticton is committed to working with the Province, BC Housing and all partners to create meaningful pathways out of homelessness while keeping safety for everyone in our community a top priority. 

Public Information Sessions (Complete)

Residents were invited to learn more about the proposed Heart and Hearth project at one of three information sessions hosted by BC Housing, the City of Penticton and community partners. This included one in-person info session and two virtual. 

Additional Resources 
BC Housing Community FAQ 
City of Penticton Project FAQ 
Watch the Nov. 4 Council presentation regarding HEART & HEARTH

Watch the Nov. 4, 2025 Presentation to Council

IMPORTANT: There’s been a lot of confusion circulating about the proposed tiny homes project and we’d like to clarify these key points. 

• This project is NOT an emergency shelter for those living in the encampment. It’s a transitional housing project that would provide a step between a shelter and a permanent home. Residents would be local adults including seniors and people with disabilities. 
• Residents would pay rent and sign program agreements. Through the HEART program, they would also receive wraparound supports, including mental health and social services.
• This project would make it possible for those living in emergency shelters to move to temporary housing. This, in turn, frees up shelter spaces for those sheltering outdoors.
• BC Housing would select an experienced non-profit housing operator to manage the building, similar to the tiny homes project seen in Kelowna. The operator would also provide 24/7 on-site staff support. 
• The Province would fund this project through the HEART and HEARTH program.
• Security measures will be built into the design, with more details on our FAQ. 

• The City has met all legislative requirements for the Temporary Use Permit. Written submissions are also welcome.

   

This graphic shows where transitional housing sits within the housing continuum. 

Image

Image

Temporary housing is an emergency form of housing that can be developed quickly while additional housing continues to be built in the community. This project is part of a broader effort to address the encampment and homelessness in Penticton.

Temporary housing provides a step between a shelter and a permanent home. Residents are local adults (19+) who need support services to maintain stable housing. They can include seniors and people with disabilities. A non-profit operator would offer supports and services that help residents work towards housing stability and individual wellness goals.

These may include: 

• On-site 24/7 staff support
• Daily meals
• Connection to health services, including referrals to addiction and mental health programs, overdose prevention and harm reduction services
• Outreach, life skills training, employment assistance
• Connection and referral to community services and support groups

All residents sign housing-related agreements and pay rent. All residents must be willing to engage in case planning and work towards long-term housing and health goals. 

BC Housing will select an experienced non-profit operator through a fair and open process to manage the housing and provide services to residents. We will introduce the operator once they are selected.

Image

Image

We acknowledge that this project represents change in your neighbourhood and you may have concerns about community safety. If approved, the site would have a Safety Plan developed in collaboration with RCMP, Penticton Fire Department, City Bylaw Services, 100 More Homes, and BC Housing. 

Several security measures will be built into the site design, such as:

• The perimeter will be fully fenced, with screen fencing and landscaping around the site. 
• The site will have gated access, with strict access control measures in place. 
• Enhanced lighting and security cameras would be installed. 

This plan would include neighbourhood information sessions and clear information on who to contact if you have questions or concerns.

If you would like to be notified by email about a future information session, please email BC Housing at communityrelations@bchousing.org to be added to the list. Please include the subject line “Penticton Temporary Housing.”

The Dartmouth site was selected after a comprehensive review of more than 60 potential locations, including Penticton Indian Band lands, Provincial properties, private leases and 31 City-owned parcels. This site meets all provincial and municipal criteria: proximity to services, size, availability and alignment with our Shelter and Supportive Housing Siting Guidelines.

The site is zoned industrial and earmarked for future City operations. 

Image

HEARTH is a partnership program that requires the local government to provide a viable location with municipal approvals in place. One of the challenges is that the City owns very few properties, and most are already designated for long-term housing projects or too small for this purpose. This site offered a unique opportunity to meet urgent needs without impacting long-term housing plans.

Image

This plan is contingent on Provincial funding through the HEART and HEARTH program. 

If approved, up to 50 tiny homes would be offered to long-term occupants of emergency shelters, freeing up emergency shelter spaces and supporting people as they transition towards permanent housing. The site will provide 24/7 staff support including mental health and addiction referrals and supports, employment navigation, and assistance in accessing permanent housing.

These residents would pay rent.

You can also learn more on BC Housing's Let's Talk webpage. 
 

If the proposal moves forward, the existing dog park will close and the City will explore further options to support our residents and their pets. Residents are encouraged to visit www.penticton.ca/dogs to find alternate locations.  

The site is zoned industrial and earmarked for future City operations. 

For questions about the site location, please email City of Penticton at blake.laven@penticton.ca.  

The site would provide stable housing as a critical step toward connections to services including treatment and recovery. 

Residents will be expected to uphold responsibilities that support their housing readiness, including paying rent and entering into agreements that promote accountability and personal growth. These agreements connect individuals to services that address mental health, substance use and overall wellbeing.

If you have more questions, visit BC Housing’s Let’s Talk page.

If you would like to be notified by email about a future information session, please email BC Housing at communityrelations@bchousing.org to be added to the list. Please include the subject line “Penticton Temporary Housing.”

This information was provided by BC Housing. A single-room unit would typically have: 

• A bed
• Desk and chair
• Mini fridge
• Air conditioning and heat
• Storage

Residents would have access to shared washrooms. The amenity building on-site would offer common dining, amenity and meeting spaces for residents. There would be laundry on-site. 

 

• June. 2, 2025: Mayor: Province working to resolve Penticton encampment
• Dec. 2, 2025: Council Highlights: Temporary Use Permit (Temporary Transitional Housing)
• Nov. 7, 2025: Attend an information session for the proposed transitional housing site
• Nov. 5, 2025: Mayor’s statement: Council defers decision on transitional housing proposal to allow for further public information sessions
• Nov. 4, 2025: View the presentation to Council related to the TUP 
• Nov. 4, 2025: View the presentation slides to City Council related to the Temporary Use Permit PL2025-10079
• Oct. 25, 2025: More indoor spaces, supports coming for people experiencing homelessness in Penticton
• Sept. 19, 2025: Council to advocate for housing, safety and infrastructure at UBCM
• Aug. 15, 2025: Penticton’s Q2 report demonstrates community impact
• June 20, 2025: Joint Statement on Penticton decampment
• June 16, 2025: Info session to address questions related to Parks Bylaw and temporary overnight sheltering
• June 10, 2025: Council adopts Parks Bylaw, providing new rules involving overnight sheltering
• June 5, 2025: Strong partnerships deliver tangible progress for Penticton
• June 4, 2025: City refreshing Parks Bylaw to regulate park usage for all users
• May 28, 2025: As part of our ongoing work with community partners and the Province, 100 More Homes led a peer-led community clean-up at the Fairview encampment. We are thankful to the Province for providing this resource. This is the start of efforts to clean up the area while we work on further solutions. 
• May 26, 2025: Statement regarding recent comments by MLA Amelia Boultbee involving the encampment
• May 13, 2025: City of Penticton and snpink’tn Indian Band Respond to Encampment near Ellis Creek
• May 9, 2025: City sees significant progress in first quarter of 2025
• April 17, 2025: Penticton’s Temporary Winter Shelter shows positive results
• Feb. 7, 2025: Five-year averages show decline in key crime statistics
• Feb. 6, 2025: Meeting sought to finalize Heart & Hearth deal
• Jan. 15, 2025: Joint statement on the encampment located at Fairview Road and Highway 97
• Nov. 8, 2024: Your Voice Matters – Participate in City of Penticton’s Public Safety Questionnaire!
• Nov. 1, 2024: Collaborative approach to public safety shows dividends

The bylaw prohibits temporary overnight sheltering along the two main lake frontages, including the following (view the maps below). 

• Okanagan Beach, SS Sicamous Park and Rose Garden
• Rotary Park, Gyro Park and Okanagan Lake Park
• Japanese Garden, Marina Way Park, and Marina Way Beach
• Northern Section of Lakawanna Park, located at 886 Lakeshore Drive W
• Skaha Lake Beach, Sudbury Beach, and Skaha Lake Park
   

In addition, the bylaw includes provisions that seek to balance the needs of the broader public with those sheltering in parks spaces, including:

• Sheltering is only permitted between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m.  Shelters may not be erected, occupied or maintained outside of these hours.
• Shelters may not be located within:
  o    15 metres of playgrounds, spray or wading pool
  o    4 metres of trails, sports fields or courts, footpath, road within a park, private properties or environmentally or culturally sensitive areas
  o    50 metres of any school property
  o    15 metres from public facility entrances
• Shelters must be spaced at least four metres apart. 
• Shelters and associated possessions must not occupy an area of more than 9 square metres.

View the handout 

Maps Showing Prohibited Areas

Image

Image

• June 4, 2025: The City of Penticton is updating its Parks Bylaw to provide clear guidelines for managing our local parks, beaches and trails for the years to come. City Council will consider the proposed bylaw during a special meeting today, with a recommendation to refer the bylaw after its adoption to the Public Safety and Parks and Recreation advisory committees. Among the changes, the bylaw provides new rules regarding overnight sheltering in parks and public spaces. This follows a line of B.C. court decisions which have found that people who do not have access to any form of indoor shelter cannot be prohibited from temporarily sheltering in public spaces.  Municipalities may lawfully establish their own rules within the framework of these decisions and may designate specific areas where overnight sheltering is not allowed.

• May 28, 2025: As part of our ongoing work with community partners and the Province, 100 More Homes led a peer-led community clean-up at the Fairview encampment. We are encouraged by the momentum over the past few months and we are happy to see tangible action being taken. An industrial-sized garbage bin was delivered to the site and we are thankful to the Province for providing this resource. This is the start of efforts to clean up the area while we work on further solutions. 

• May 26, 2025: Statement regarding recent comments by MLA Amelia Boultbee. The City of Penticton is disappointed by recent public comments from MLA Amelia Boultbee regarding the City’s response to the Fairview encampment. These remarks misrepresent the collaborative efforts underway to address a complex situation.

• May 13, 2025: City of Penticton and snpink’tn Indian Band Respond to Encampment near Ellis Creek. The City of Penticton and the snpink’tn Indian Band are partnering with provincial agencies and community partners to respond to the growing encampment at the intersection of Highway 97 and Fairview Road. Located on unceded syilx territory and under provincial jurisdiction, the site hosts individuals experiencing homelessness, raising environmental, social, and economic concerns that require collaborative efforts respecting Indigenous title and governmental responsibility.

• April 17, 2025: Penticton’s Temporary Winter Shelter provided care to 91 individuals and resulted in 12 becoming permanently housed. This model of shelter also decreased calls for service to police, fire and bylaw services over a five-month period, according to the latest data ending March 31, 2025. BC Housing has provided bridging funding for the shelter to continue operating until the end of May while working on longer-term arrangements.

   

• April 1, 2025: Penticton City Council met with Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Ravi Kahlon to discuss encampment, shelter and housing solutions in Penticton. The meeting focused on Penticton’s proactive approach and request for provincial funding to support HEART and HEARTH programming in Penticton. The Province has confirmed interim funding for the Temporary Winter Shelter for April and May, ensuring no disruption to services as discussions continue. The City will continue to work closely with BC Housing, 100 More Homes, community service providers and the Snpink’tn Indian Band this spring to ensure the right mix of housing, services and supports is available and that suitable locations are identified for all types of housing, including the unhoused.

   

• Feb. 6, 2025: The snpink’tn Indian Band and the City of Penticton have sent a letter to the provincial government formally asking for a Heart & Hearth Agreement. 

Here are some local resources: 

This encampment is located on Provincial land and the City of Penticton does not have jurisdiction over the land, which means we do not have authority to decamp. 

It's also worth pointing out that if the encampment was decamped without somewhere for the residents to go, they would be forced to find other areas of the community to shelter outdoors overnight. That is why we have been advocating for Heart & Hearth in Penticton – it comes with robust services, a solid plan with tangible solutions and a 3–5-year commitment from the Province. Housing is the goal.

Bylaw conducts weekly point-in-time counts to understand the number of individuals sheltering outdoors, both in the encampment and within City limits.

The numbers of individuals at the encampment through winter ranged, with an average of approximately 17 across all the data points. The numbers decreased once the temporary winter shelter opened. These numbers fluctuate weekly, as the nature of homelessness can be transient. 

April/May numbers indicate that there are approximately 30-35 individuals at the encampment.  We also know that historically homeless numbers tend to grow in the summer time. 
 

Interior Health is responsible for, and monitors, recreational beaches during the swimming season. As of May 20, test results were at acceptable levels.

Access to the sampling results, including three locations along the Okanagan River Channel, can be found here. More broadly, concerns relating to water quality as a result of pollution or contamination in waterways, can be reported to the Province at 1-877-952-7277 or via the online form.

Due to the encampment being located on provincially owned land, municipal bylaws are not enforceable at the site. As a result, RCMP and Fire Services are the only agencies currently able to respond to incidents in the area. We continue to work closely with these partners to ensure public safety and respond to concerns as they arise. Residents are reminded to call 911 if they witness a crime or feel unsafe.

We recognize the encampment’s proximity to Highway 97 and the Channel, both key tourist areas which drives our economy in the Summer. We are working with partners to resolve the issue thoughtfully and safely before peak season.

100 More Homes has compiled this list of resources for those seeking shelter, including a list of agencies that can help your search for housing. Another good resource is the Little Red Book, provided by the Access Centre.

The encampment is on land owned by the Ministry of Transportation, expropriated from the Penticton Indian Band and never returned. As such, it is not subject to municipal bylaws.

We are advocating for a coordinated, legally sound response that respects all jurisdictions and community members. The work being done takes time and has seen substantial commitment from all participants.

Download the fact sheet below to print off 

Letter to Neighbours

Image

Penticton’s Temporary Winter Shelter provided care to 91 individuals and resulted in 12 becoming permanently housed. This model of shelter also decreased calls for service to police, fire and bylaw services over a five-month period, according to the latest data ending March 31, 2025.

The information, compiled in partnership with 100 More Homes, RCMP, Penticton Fire Department, City Bylaw Services, the Penticton Industrial Development Association, and Penticton Chamber of Commerce shows an overall decline in calls for public safety agencies since the shelter opened on Nov. 16, 2024.

• Bylaw: Calls decreased by 61% within the broader industrial area, also partly attributed to proactive patrols. 
• Fire: Calls decreased by 12% compared to the same period last year.
• RCMP: Calls decreased by 2% overall.

Of the 91 individuals who stayed at the shelter: 

• 54 reported being from Penticton (born or raised here).
• 32 had foster care experience and three were between the ages of 19-27. 
• 12 have transitioned to permanent housing.
• 5 individuals left the shelter to seek further treatment.

BC Housing has provided bridging funding for the shelter to continue operating until the end of May while working on longer-term arrangements.

Image

Image

100 More Homes has compiled this list of resources for those seeking shelter, including a list of agencies that can help your search for housing. Another good resource is the Little Red Book, provided by the Access Centre.

A report of Penticton's social services with HelpSeeker Technologies and 100 More Homes Penticton gives a comprehensive review of the community's social infrastructure, particularly those services related to housing and homelessness.

Containing  many  anecdotes  and  personal  stories  of  lived  experience, as  well  as  survey  and  other  data, the No Where Home report  outlines  the  unique challenges  of  youth faced  with  homelessness  in  Penticton.  The report  outlines the  methodology  for  its creation,  partners  involved  and  includes  10  recommendations  / objectives  for  improvement,  including:  

1.  Meaningfully  engaging  youth voice  (decision  making, development  of  solutions) 2.  Creating  and  maintaining  a  strong, community  leadership  structure 3.  Implementing effective  prevention  strategies 4.  Creating a  continuum of  housing options for  youth 5.  Increasing  intra-partner  collaboration 6.  Educating  and  enhancing  awareness 7.  Implementing evidence-based  and  trauma  informed  practices 8.  Increasing  access  to  a  range of  services  and  supports 9.  Increasing  support  for  families  with at-risk  youth   10.  Using  data  and  evaluation  to  inform  our  decisions

No Where to Go Report

The report of three supportive housing facilities highlights the challenges faced by Penticton:

• The need for full 24/7 wraparound services at existing supportive housing facilities
• The need for more effective and accessible treatment and recovery options
• The need for an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team in Penticton

Read the Supportive Housing Review Report

On March 2, 2021, Penticton City Council asked the Safety and Security Advisory Committee to develop shelter and supportive housing location selection guidelines. The Committee discussed the guidelines over three meetings, and made a recommendation to Penticton City Council to adopt the guidelines. On May 18, 2021, Council adopted the guidelines based on the Committee’s recommendation. If you have questions about the guidelines, please contact Social Development.

Bylaw Services
To report a non-emergency bylaw issue, please fill out our online form. All requests will be forwarded to the appropriate contact for consideration.
Hours of Operation: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week
Office reception hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed between noon and 1 p.m. for lunch)
Phone: 250-490-2440
Email: bylaw@penticton.ca

Social Development
Phone: 250-490-2512, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m.
Email: socialdevelopment@penticton.ca

100 Homes Penticton

The City of Penticton is a partner with 100 Homes Penticton, an initiative to end chronic homelessness. Since 2016, they have housed more than 145 people experiencing homelessness in our community. To find out more about the work they’re doing, or to donate, please visit the dedicated United Way webpage.

Other Agencies 

The City works closely with the following agencies to ensure adequate and affordable housing is available to the residents of Penticton.

• Aboriginal Housing Management Association, 1-888-921-2462
• South Okanagan Brain Injury Society, 250-490-0613
• Penticton and District Society for Community Living, 250-490-0200 
• SAFER (Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters), 1-800-257-7756