The father of Steven Furness, one of four victims of the 2022 mass shooting in 91原创 City and Township, urged 91原创 City council Monday to help create a safe space for homeless people.

鈥淲e all bring our pets in for the evening, but we leave our homeless out in the rain. This is wrong,鈥� Stewart Furness told councillors at the Jan. 16 meeting.

While municipal powers are limited when it comes to homelessness, Furness told council that it could help homeless people by renting space for a low-barrier homeless shelter as a 鈥渟topgap鈥� measure, and by adjusting zoning and bylaw regulations to make it possible.

Furness hopes to arrange financing for operation of a shelter, tentatively named 鈥淪teve鈥檚 Place,鈥� from individuals and churches in the community.

鈥淢y personal experience is that there are less than 100 people sleeping in tents and doorways in 91原创 City,鈥� Furness said. 鈥淭his is the group that we need to help, as soon as possible.鈥�

READ ALSO: Victims of 91原创 shooting spree identified

Steven Furness, 43, was shot and killed at the bus loop in downtown 91原创 City, while Paul David Wynn, 60, died outside Creek Stone Place, a supportive housing project for formerly homeless people in a series of shootings apparently targeting the homeless. Two other people were wounded, but survived.

The man responsible was shot and killed later that morning by police.

During his presentation to council, Steven鈥檚 father, Stewart, said existing 鈥渮oning and bylaws create obstacles to changes that are needed,鈥� citing instances where bylaw officers prevented a church from providing homeless people with a place to stay, and another instance where he said a local charity was fined $800 for handing out sandwiches to homeless people near the local casino.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Homeless say 91原创 shootings are escalation of harassment they already endure

While 91原创 City鈥檚 homeless problem is relatively small compared to some other communities, 鈥渆ven 100 people living on the street is too many,鈥� Furness declared.

The 91原创-area resident challenged what he called the 鈥渕yth鈥� that homeless in 91原创 City are outsiders, saying his experience is that most 鈥� like his son 鈥� are local residents.

Furness said the proposed shelter would augment the local Gateway of Hope homeless shelter.

While he praised staff at Gateway for their efforts, he noted it has been at capacity for years, and he believes the shelter rules have created a 鈥渃lash of culture鈥� with some homeless people 鈥� ultimately keeping them on the street.

His suggestion is to create a temporary low-barrier space by renting a warehouse or commercial space that could also double as a warming centre.

Furness said he was appealing to council for help, because it will take him at least six months to set up a charity.

鈥淚鈥檓 stuck. I can鈥檛 do anything,鈥� he advised. 鈥淚 would just like to see something moving.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 do very much because of the bylaws.鈥�

Mayor Nathan Pachal promised council would review the Furness proposal.