Social Issues

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When Julius Bloomfield became Mayor in 2022, Penticton was facing significant challenges related to homelessness, addiction and crime.

The response needed to go beyond individual incidents. The City needed better coordination between protective services, social agencies and community partners — while also addressing the underlying issues contributing to crime and homelessness.

Since 2022, we have taken a number of steps to strengthen that response.

Integrated Crisis Response Team — Car 40

One of the first initiatives was the introduction of Car 40, also known as the Integrated Crisis Response Team. Mental health specialists respond alongside RCMP officers to wellness calls, helping connect people experiencing mental health challenges with the appropriate support.

Social Development Coordinator

The City hired a Social Development Coordinator to help organize and coordinate the City's response to social issues and improve collaboration between the organizations working in this area.

Protective Services Review

In 2022, the City commissioned a comprehensive review of Penticton's Protective Services, including the RCMP, Bylaw Services and Fire Department.

The recommendations from that review were presented to Council in the fall of 2022 and have since guided a number of changes. 

Acting on the recommendations

Since the review, we have:

• Increased the size and training of the Bylaw Department.
• Hired a General Manager of Protective Services to coordinate the work of the City's protective services and other agencies involved in social issues.
• Partnered with 100 More Homes and the United Way to better coordinate services for people experiencing homelessness and marginalization.
• Become a partner in a new shelter, allowing the City to have greater influence over its operating terms and approach.
• Introduced new bylaws establishing clear rules around camping within city limits.

Signs of progress

This work is showing encouraging results.

Penticton has seen:

• Fewer car thefts
• A reduction in property crime
• A meaningful reduction in violent crime from the historical highs experienced in the city
• A significant reduction in overdose deaths since 2022, with further reductions anticipated in 2026

These improvements are encouraging and suggest that the City is moving in the right direction.

But there is still much more to do.

The City continues to advocate for additional resources and services that are needed to address the root causes of homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges.

That includes continued advocacy for:

Detox and recovery housing
Expanding access to detox and recovery housing so people have somewhere to go when they are ready to begin recovery.

Secure care
Advocating for appropriate secure care for people experiencing serious mental health and addiction challenges who require a higher level of support.

The challenges Penticton faces did not develop overnight, and they will not be solved overnight.

But by strengthening our services, improving coordination and continuing to advocate for the resources our community needs, we can keep making progress.