Homelessness Initiatives

• 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

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Penticton’s current Parks Bylaw is out-of-date and does not align with recent developments in the law. The newly proposed bylaw aligns with today’s needs and the current legal framework and will provide a set of clear guidelines for the City’s Bylaw Services team.

Engagements with 100 More Homes and the Lived Experience Group have found that impacted groups are seeking better clarity around the rules and fair enforcement. 

Our municipal parks are designed for the use and enjoyment of our entire community, including people who do not have access to indoor shelter. In accordance with provincial case law, the new proposed bylaw allows people who do not have access to any form of indoor accommodation to temporary shelter in specific areas of certain parks, during overnight hours only.  

Penticton’s current bylaw prohibits overnight sheltering in all municipal parks.  However, the courts have determined that, in communities where demand for emergency shelter space exceeds supply, a complete ban on overnight sheltering in parks is unconstitutional.  

As in every other city in British Columbia, demand for shelter space exceeds supply in Penticton.  This means that the current bylaw cannot be legally enforced with respect to overnight sheltering in parks.  While ‘no camping’ signs were posted pursuant to the current bylaw, the City has not been able to enforce these provisions as they are no longer lawful.  
 

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No.  Only people who cannot access any form of indoor shelter are allowed to shelter overnight in parks.  

Camping in parks by anyone with access to indoor shelter, in Penticton of elsewhere, will remain strictly prohibited.  This prohibition will be actively enforced.  
 

If a visitor has access to shelter in their hometown or elsewhere, but has not secured indoor accommodation for the duration of their visit to Penticton, they may camp at sanctioned provincial or private campgrounds.  They may not shelter overnight in city parks.   

The new proposed bylaw will help prevent encampments by providing clear rules for temporary overnight sheltering which will provide City staff with tools to prevent entrenched encampments, including: 

• A requirement to pack up shelters each morning by 9 a.m. 
• A requirement that shelter sites may be no larger than nine square meters, and must not be located within 4 meters of any other shelter
• A prohibition against sheltering in or around certain amenities, including playgrounds, sports fields, trails, and environmentally or culturally sensitive areas.
• A prohibition against open fires.

Structures used for overnight sheltering will not be permitted to remain in parks during the day.  

Unsheltered people have the same right to use public spaces during the day, in accordance with the same rules which are applicable to all other park users.  This includes prohibitions against damage to parks and park infrastructure; open fires or flame-generating devices; and leaving garbage or debris in parks. 

The City of Penticton has proposed to prohibit overnight sheltering in high-volume areas that are heavily used by residents and tourists alike. 

This approach, adopted in municipalities like Victoria, Saanich, and Nanaimo, allows the City to protect important amenities and economic drivers, while respecting the right of unsheltered persons to shelter in parks at night when indoor shelter is not available. 

In cities such as Penticton, where the demand for emergency shelter space exceeds the supply, the courts have found that a complete ban on overnight sheltering is not constitutional.

Yes, Bylaw Services patrol the parks daily and work with those on-site to clean up the space. The team is trained to remove sharps and other items. 

If you have concerns that a public space is not being utilized within its permitted use, or if you see items that need to be cleaned up, please contact Bylaw Services at 250-490-2440 or report the issue online. 

We are committed to ongoing monitoring and adjustments. We will track impacts, listen to feedback and make changes if necessary. 

If you have concerns that a public space is not being utilized within its permitted use, please contact Bylaw Services at 250-490-2440 or report the issue online. 

If there is illegal activity occurring, contact the RCMP at 250-492-4300 or use their Online Crime Reporting system.

We continue to work closely with our RCMP and Fire Services 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.

This approach seeks to manage a complex situation in a way that is respectful of everyone in our community. Your feedback will continue to inform how we evaluate and adjust this approach going forward.
 

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.

• 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

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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.

City Council received a report involving the seasonal shelter during the next Council meeting on Tuesday, April 22. 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.

Also, dedicated staff from Interior Health provided 267 wound care services at the shelter, 30 mental health and substance use connections, and 60 primary care contacts, preventing emergency hospital visits that may have been necessary if sheltering on the street.

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

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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