THUNDER BAY - A business owner in the downtown south core is expressing concerns about the city’s plans to build a temporary shelter village in the neighbourhood, saying there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered.
“We need more information. Information that they gave us was very useful letting us know what it is and what it is not going to be,” said Tony DiPaolo, a business owner and member of the Fort William BIA. “But there are definitely still more questions that need to be answered, both for the BIA and our area and the public of Thunder Bay.”
Thunder Bay city council recently approved a decision to move forward on a 10-part human rights-based community action plan to address homeless encampments, which includes the construction of a temporary shelter village to operate for five years.
The plan has identified two possible sites, which includes 100 units at the Kam River Heritage Park at a cost of between $5.9 million and $6.8 million or 80 units in a lot on Miles Street at a cost of between $4 million to $4.3 million.
DiPaolo questions why these particular sites were chosen and if they will be large enough to fulfill the needs of the population or allow for possible future expansion.
“These sites seem like there is not enough space,” he said. “They have proposed 80 to 100 units. They have told us there are over 200 people on the streets, so that’s just 50 per cent. I think we need a property for expansion. Or we are looking at another location in the future.”
DiPaolo also raised concerns about how the sites will be operated and if laws and bylaws will be enforced.
He used the example of existing encampments where groups of people may separate themselves from others over safety concerns.
“I don’t think there has been enough thought put into the process of what bad things can happen,” DiPaolo said. “They’ve told us a great picture of what they can do and what they are looking forward to help, but there are questions still. And also questions about the transition period. This is supposed to be short term temporary. What is the timeline for that?”
“Definitely the people are more secure, they are provided heat and hydro, but they are having issues in some of these places where the residents don’t want to move out. So there are questions about the transition period and how they are being taught to transition. Are you setting them up for failure? Business wise, how temporary is it? What is the exit strategy? When is the exit strategy?”
The location of the sites is also being questioned by DiPaolo, who said it goes against the city’s plans of rejuvenating the downtown south core with the removal of VictoriaVille.
But he also acknowledged that the area does have issues, which is another reason he is questioning the decision to only look at the two sites in the downtown south core.
“Why are you putting residents who are prone to being abused or taken advantage of by nefarious people and keeping them in an area they know have those people. Why would you not remove them from that area?” DiPaolo said.
No decision has been made on which site will be used.
