FORT ST. JOHN -- The City of Fort St. John is grappling with challenges posed by homeless encampments and the litter they leave behind.
In response, city officials and crews are working within provincial legislation to clean up homeless camps in parks and pubic property while striving to ‘balance the needs’ of all residents.
On September 18th, 2024, city park crews were seen in Matthews Park cleaning up trash left behind by a recently dismantled camp. Over the next few days, crews will focus on cleaning and restoring the trail between the Walmart on 96a Street and Matthews Park.
Fort St. John RCMP were at the scene today, where individuals living in a large encampment along the trail have been given notice of the upcoming clean-up.
The city has expressed deep concern for the safety and well-being of the unhoused population and continue to advocate for legislative changes and enhanced support from the provincial government to address the root causes of homelessness.
“Council has established a Response Committee on Housing and Emergency Shelter to find sustainable solutions, and we continue developing a Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw to better manage encampments,” said the city in a Facebook post.
The city has emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents, including those experiencing homelessness.
