http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=48079
As the future of the temporary homeless shelter becomes more precarious, organizations 
representing downtown businesses continue to voice their concerns regarding a “tent city” that has sprung up in the new shelter‘s parking lot. “The chamber‘s position is that we are concerned about the image of Vernon,” said Dawn Lasby, general manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. Lasby has said that the chamber is worried that the increased number of people panhandling in the area is driving away potential customers and creating safety concerns. This is echoed by Malcom Dunn, president of the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA). “We‘re not aware of any specific incidents. It‘s not so much people getting attacked but they are getting asked for money. When they are approached by panhandlers, people feel their personal level of safety is reduced,” said Dunn. Lasby also said that there have been no specific incidents of violence but the presence of homeless people was making shoppers feel uneasy. It is the position of both the chamber and the DVA that the current location of the new temporary shelter on 32nd St. is less than ideal. “It‘s a high visibility building that could be used for far different purposes,” said Dunn. He added that the area was a “key future development site for downtown Vernon”. “When a situation like this happens, it is the business owners that take it on the chin if less people are booking hotels or coming downtown to eat,” said Dunn. Lasby said that the chamber remains confident that a solution would be found. “Sometimes it takes a crisis to pull a community together. We‘re hoping for a speedy solution.” Neither the DVA or the Chamber of Commerce had any plans of making a cash donation to the shelter; both groups felt that it was not their responsibility. “It‘s not in our mandate (to make a donation). We are there to promote the downtown core. It‘s up to the federal, provincial and municipal government,” said Dunn, “This is not a DVA issue.” “Our concern is the decline in business,” Lasby said. “Our position is that we want to bring in positive businesses to create a downtown where people can enjoy dining and retail shopping,” said Lasby.
representing downtown businesses continue to voice their concerns regarding a “tent city” that has sprung up in the new shelter‘s parking lot. “The chamber‘s position is that we are concerned about the image of Vernon,” said Dawn Lasby, general manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce. Lasby has said that the chamber is worried that the increased number of people panhandling in the area is driving away potential customers and creating safety concerns. This is echoed by Malcom Dunn, president of the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA). “We‘re not aware of any specific incidents. It‘s not so much people getting attacked but they are getting asked for money. When they are approached by panhandlers, people feel their personal level of safety is reduced,” said Dunn. Lasby also said that there have been no specific incidents of violence but the presence of homeless people was making shoppers feel uneasy. It is the position of both the chamber and the DVA that the current location of the new temporary shelter on 32nd St. is less than ideal. “It‘s a high visibility building that could be used for far different purposes,” said Dunn. He added that the area was a “key future development site for downtown Vernon”. “When a situation like this happens, it is the business owners that take it on the chin if less people are booking hotels or coming downtown to eat,” said Dunn. Lasby said that the chamber remains confident that a solution would be found. “Sometimes it takes a crisis to pull a community together. We‘re hoping for a speedy solution.” Neither the DVA or the Chamber of Commerce had any plans of making a cash donation to the shelter; both groups felt that it was not their responsibility. “It‘s not in our mandate (to make a donation). We are there to promote the downtown core. It‘s up to the federal, provincial and municipal government,” said Dunn, “This is not a DVA issue.” “Our concern is the decline in business,” Lasby said. “Our position is that we want to bring in positive businesses to create a downtown where people can enjoy dining and retail shopping,” said Lasby. 
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