A controversy is brewing in the City of North Bay over the best location and operational plan for a “warming centre” and “low barrier shelter” to serve unhoused citizens.
Coun. Mark King, chairman of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, joins the Echo Essentials podcast with hosts Scott Clark and Dave Dale to discuss the issue. King doesn’t support a consultant’s report that recommended having a “homeless hub” of such services within three blocks of the downtown area, where many homeless, often with mental health and addiction issues, receive medical, pharmaceutical and other support services. The interview took place May 28.
King said the experience of having the “warming centre” in a variety of locations these past few years informs his viewpoint. He said the negative consequences for those living nearby or operating businesses is substantial.
Currently, the low barrier shelter is located beside the Northern Pines transitional housing project operating at the former OPP headquarters off Chippewa Street. That location is also problematic, he said, because of its close proximity to a high school, senior living centres and down the road to an elementary school and daycare. While open to the idea of a potential new location, he said the the Crisis Centre and Gathering Place soup kitchen warn of potential issues.
King wanted to come on the podcast after this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGo6vsKcvnU
Brent Kalinowski, North Bay’s Community Safety and Well-Being Coordinator, joined Small Town Times editor Dave Dale and Between 2 Daves Co-Host Dave Mendicino to discuss his role, background and latest updates.
Some of the questions answered in this interview: How is Northern Pines and their transitional program doing to help people live independently? Where is the low barrier shelter component going to go? And is the Homeless Hub, recommended out of the DNSSAB homelessness study with a projected $2.6-million price tag, a cure for what ails the city?
See a BayToday story published this week about the Homeless Hub: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/a-new-homeless-hub-near-downtown-north-bay-8907898
To North Bay With Love
By The Echo Podcast Network