Proposed north London homeless hub location raises concerns
City council’s Strategic Priorities and Policies committee endorsed the first three homeless hub locations across London on Monday, but it’s one site in particular that’s raising alarm bells.
Businesses and residents in the north end say the current Lighthouse Motel site is too close to a residential neighbourhood and children’s services. It’s being proposed as a hub to serve women and those who identify as female. It would be operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association and Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services.
“It shouldn’t be near a public school or anywhere near where kids are playing,” said parent TJ Robinson. “Because I mean I’m not trying to judge every book by its cover but there is rampant drug use and sometimes violent and dangerous behaviour.”TVCC on Fanshawe Park Road West in London, Ont., on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
Robinson’s four-year-old daughter attends TVCC on Fanshawe Park Road West. It’s a treatment space for children with autism, and it’s just a stone’s throw away from the Lighthouse Inn. “These kids are, you know, learning delay and just getting to know the world,” said Robinson.
But TVCC itself, which opened just weeks ago, has not expressed concern at this point. In fact, in a statement to CTV News TVCC CEO Paul Horwath said “we support London City Council’s proactive and inclusive process to determining a path forward for our city. Housing is a human right, and we believe that as a community we need to support solutions to help people experiencing chronic and persistent homelessness, including support for the location of hubs across our city.”
Some residents in the Fox Hollow neighbourhood behind the motel are not as supportive. In fact, many are quite nervous about the city’s plan to address the homelessness crisis.
“I know they won’t be harmful but you never know, in our city,” said resident Dahval Motwani. “It’s quite a grey area, right? We as family people would definitely be concerned with that.”
The motel site would need to be rezoned to meet the city’s requirement as a homeless hub location. That’s something that wasn’t made clear says resident Paul Bunagan. “If zoning wasn’t for the first five hubs and we have to zone it, is it a right decision? That’s a question to be answered. As a community we are just asking questions and want to be informed.”
Ward Councillor Corrine Rahman maintains council should defer the decision on hub locations to allow for due diligence.
“We have children in the area that use TVCC services, and we need to consider what impacts, if any, there are with that location and any potential concerns.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Federal government to announce details of dental insurance plan
Several government ministers are expected to launch today a new federal dental insurance plan that will provide benefits directly to eligible Canadian residents, though the first claims won't be processed until May.
Israel battles militants in Gaza's main cities, with civilians still stranded near front lines
Israeli forces battled Palestinian militants in Gaza's two largest cities on Monday, with civilians still sheltering along the front lines even after massive waves of displacement across the besieged territory.
'We're trying not to break down': Sask. family desperate to find their loved one last seen in Toronto
The family of 39-year-old Lesley Sparvier has been trying to find and locate her after she left home on foot in Kahkewistahaw First Nation, Sask. on Nov. 28.
Buckingham Palace releases this year’s Christmas card
Buckingham Palace released an image of the Christmas card that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be sending out this year.
Iowa man arrested in the death of a Nebraska Catholic priest
A man has been arrested in the stabbing death of a Catholic priest who was attacked over the weekend in a church rectory in a small Nebraska community, authorities said.
The Universite de Moncton will not be getting a new name
The board of New Brunswick's Université de Moncton has decided not to change the school's name despite concerns about its connection to a problematic historical figure.
Trump says he won't testify Monday at his New York fraud trial and sees no need to appear again
Donald Trump said Sunday he has decided against testifying for a second time at his New York civil fraud trial, posting on social media that he "VERY SUCCESSFULLY & CONCLUSIVELY" testified last month and saw no need to appear again.
Saskatchewan is a safe space to buy 'sustainable oil,' Scott Moe says
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is working hard to use a global climate change conference as an opportunity to market the province’s non-renewable resources.
LCBO reveals what Ontarians drank the most this year
When it came to what Ontarians brought home during their liquor runs at the LCBO, the company said customers went for options that gave them more bang for their buck.