West Kelowna council has committed to take action on temporary farm worker accommodations that are in alleged "slum” like conditions and causing crime, following pleas from a resident.
Collin Crabbe, who lives on Sharf Road, spoke to council during their regular meeting on Tuesday, urging them to take action on two agricultural properties on his street, following a break-in at his home earlier this month.
“My wife was the victim of a violent break and enter and assault from a temporary farm worker from Brazil,” he told council “She had to lock her four-year-old and 1-year-old son in the bedroom while she was forced to fight the attacker, who had kicked open our front door, to prevent her from gaining access into our house and into our children.”
He said the incident is just one of dozens over the last 15 years, all believed to be caused by the agricultural properties in the area.
“The crime in our area has drastically increased over the past few years with the majority of offences coming from a handful of well-known agricultural properties being run as low class slums,” he said “The farms are bringing in migrant farm workers and forcing them to live in terrible conditions, renting out decrepit and unsafe low cost residential units, year-round, and then masking the entire situation as agricultural worker accommodation.”
Crabbe said he’s e-mailed council with his concerns numerous times before, even sending a petition signed by 70 residents last year, calling for action.
During his presentation, he showed several pictures of the agricultural properties, including one showing a makeshift outhouse, and had statements from neighbors who said they feel unsafe.
He also listed some recommendations for council which included: removing current allowance for tents or vehicles to be acceptable forms of temporary agriculture worker dwellings, require all temporary agriculture dwellings to have proper washroom and bathing facilities, and that temporary agriculture dwellings follow the occupant loads outlined in BC Building Code.
While Mayor Doug Findlater said they were aware of the ongoing problems and already investigating it with several agency partners, council passed a formal motion, requesting city staff to report back on Crabbe's concerns and on options moving forward.