Golf courses on the edge of town may not be the “perfect” place to build temporary winter shelters, but city politicians decided they’re good enough.
Golf courses on the edge of town may not be the “perfect” place to build temporary winter shelters, but city politicians decided they’re good enough.
A bid to rethink the remote locations fell flat Tuesday night, as council’s community and protective services committee voted to endorse a controversial $1.9-million approach to serve homeless Londoners during the coldest months of the year.
“These solutions are never going to be perfect, but they’re necessary,” Ward 4 Coun. Jesse Helmer, who chairs the committee, said Tuesday.
Perhaps his strongest ally on council, Ward 3 Coun. Mo Salih, disagreed. He was the lone opponent in a 5-1 vote against city hall’s proposed winter plan, which would see temporary shelters built from construction trailers at Fanshawe and River Road golf courses.
“The location and lack of support, the lack of infrastructure there just doesn’t make sense,” Salih said. Fanshawe golf course, at the northeast edge of the city, is in Salih’s ward.
“I’ve seen more deer than people walking in that neighbourhood,” he said, noting there are no sidewalks, and calling it a potentially dangerous spot to locate a shelter.
No one was willing to back a motion from Salih to send the plan back to staff to consider other locations.
If approved by city council on Nov. 16, city hall’s winter response is expected to be in place by Dec. 1. In addition to the golf course shelters, each expected to have 30 spaces, it’ll include 40 drop-in beds in the downtown core, and a stabilization space for people in crisis on Hamilton Road.
‘People will die’ if golf course homeless shelters go ahead: Expert https://t.co/MDOfaAognc #ldnont
Outreach workers and researchers who led or studied last year’s temporary winter shelters have said the plan to build the shelters on golf courses contradicts many needs of residents, including access to the safer drug supply program as well as other downtown services.
One homeless expert expressed a deep fear that people will be found walking from the golf courses into the city’s core.
City officials stressed that transportation — likely shuttle or taxi service — will be provided for anyone who needs to leave the shelter sites for appointments or other reasons.
Services, including health care and social assistance, will be brought to the golf courses to work with those staying there. The locations also allow for indoor showers, space to prepare meals and wireless internet.
The goal is to get people into permanent housing quickly, staff say.
Several politicians said they initially questioned the winter approach but have since come around.
“I thought, ‘Oh no, what are we doing here? We’re trying to move them out (of the core),’ ” Ward 9 Coun. Anna Hopkins said.
“I think it is fair to say we’re moving some of them on. I think it’s OK to acknowledge that. Not to do something would be worse. I look at this as a pilot program,” she added.
Mayor Ed Holder and councillors Helmer, Hopkins, John Fyfe-Millar and Shawn Lewis endorsed the plan. Salih voted against. The final decision rests with council on Nov. 16.
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