Drug use, theft, squatting and confrontations with staff are on the rise at the Nelson and District Community Complex.

Staff suspended 10 patrons during a two-week period in January, according to Joe Chirico, general manager of community services for the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

His report to the recreation commission on Jan. 28 cited several instances of patrons locking themselves in showers or change rooms, drug paraphernalia found in washrooms, people setting up sleeping bags in the washrooms, money and washroom products being stolen, users not paying to access the facilities, and verbal abuse of staff.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e had patrons say to us they含羞草研究社檙e not feeling as safe as they used to be,含羞草研究社� Chirico said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 definitely increased staff stress. Oftentimes, if you confront people you含羞草研究社檝e suspended from the community, they含羞草研究社檙e belligerent, they can be abusive 含羞草研究社� not necessarily physically but verbally, and that takes its toll.

含羞草研究社淸It] just doesn含羞草研究社檛 make the facility a family-positive, public place to come to.含羞草研究社�

Staff have installed used-needle containers throughout the complex, locked several doors that used to remain open throughout the day, and are trying to funnel all visitors past the front desk, he said. They含羞草研究社檙e also considering hiring security.

The challenge, Chirico said, is that people have a right to be in a public place even if they haven含羞草研究社檛 paid to get in 含羞草研究社� especially when it is cold outside 含羞草研究社� and the centre suffers from not having a larger entrance for the public to relax in.

含羞草研究社淲e know we need to be somehow a part of the positive solution for the community, but we含羞草研究社檙e still trying to figure out how we fit into that,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淲e want to be empathetic, but we also want to make sure the facility is safe for patrons and staff.含羞草研究社�

In 2018, a homeless count recorded 101 people living in Nelson without safe, permanent housing 含羞草研究社� more than a third of whom had been without it for more than six months.

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tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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