Morgan, Lewis pitch extending winter shelter spaces through July so city can consider year-round proposal
A last ditch effort at city hall might see the doors to Ark Aid Street Mission’s winter homeless shelter remain open past the end of this month.
On Monday, a letter from Mayor Josh Morgan and Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis was added to the agenda of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee requesting council provide $687,000 to keep the shelter spaces open until July 31 so that city staff have time to consider the Ark’s proposal to offer year-round support services.
“My biggest concern was that on May 31 my referral [to homeless Londoners] would be to a tent in a park,” Executive Director Sarah Campbell told CTV News London. “This gives me hope that we will have options to offer people.”
Since opening in December, more than 1,000 individuals have accessed services through the Winter Response to Homelessness which includes 120 beds and approximately the same number of daytime spaces.
Campbell said 30 people have secured housing and 15 more have returned to living arrangements with their families.
However, municipal funding for the Winter Response expires on May 31.
An extension until July 31 would allow city staff time to analyze an unsolicited proposal by Ark Aid Street Mission to continue offering year-round support services until more service hubs open as part of London’s Whole of Community Response to Homelessness.
“For $6 million we can do year-round services that would pivot between encampment supports, drop-in spaces, basic needs provision, encampment depots, and of course the inclement weather [response],” explained Campbell.
Hiring staff and bringing new locations up to building code standards has become an annual cost for the temporary shelter program.
Campbell’s proposal estimates that a year-round service would save 25 per cent on a monthly basis.
“I’ve seen that proposal. I think there’s merit in it. So does the mayor,” said Lewis. “We’re looking for a little bit of time to have staff fully evaluate the proposal, but keep the existing services going until we can make that change over.”
The letter from Morgan and Lewis reads, “It is imperative that this proposal is thoroughly assessed to ensure it is right-sized, refined, and aligned with our broader homelessness strategy.”
In November, Lewis was strongly opposed to the Ark operating a Winter Response location inside the former daycare behind Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church on William Street.
Last week he had a tour of the facility and witnessed the results.
“I’m happy to be proven wrong in this case because they’ve done a good job. They’re getting results,” he admitted. “The church is really functioning as a bit of a transitional bed space. They are actually getting people into housing.”
Only two service hubs have opened as part of the city’s Whole of Community Response to Homelessness — and the timing to open a third is unknown.
Campbell said the shelter has incorporated a hubs-type model as much as possible.
“We know that the model can work. I believe that we’re actually demonstrating the effectiveness of the hubs plan,” she said.
“It has proven itself to be a good stopgap measure until we’re able to get the full system up and running,” Lewis added.
The Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee will consider the mayor and deputy mayor’s letter at its meeting on May 7.
Council will make a final decision May 14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
With DNA break, police ID victim in decades-old Newfoundland case
A skull was found along a backroad near St. John's more than 20 years ago. Now, police have finally identified the victim of the homicide.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing plan defeated in House of Commons
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's housing bill has been defeated in the House of Commons with the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois voting against the legislation.
B.C. man to be extradited to U.S. on charges of sexually assaulting stepdaughter
A British Columbia man will be extradited to the United States, where he faces a possible life sentence if convicted of charges that he repeatedly sexually assaulted his stepdaughter, after losing his appeal of the extradition order Tuesday.
Trudeau must more publicly support ICC decisions amid Israel-Hamas war: ex-ministers
A group of prominent former politicians and current academics is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to change his tone on the possibility of arrest warrants for senior Israeli leaders.