Some People Prefer Street to Shelter: Chair

Monday, 15 May 2023 11:43

By Geoff Waterfield

Niagara Chair indicates part of homeless problem is people don't like rules in shelters

Niagara Regional council is struggling to get a grip on the homeless situation, after St. Catharines' mayor revealed the problem is getting worse in his city.

Mat Siscoe told a recent council meeting a public washroom has been vandalized repeatedly, people are sheltering in there, as well as drug use in open view on downtown city streets. He adds business owners are being threatened, and banks have indicated they are considering leaving.

The region recently declared a State of Emergency for the homeless and addiction problems, to which Hamilton followed after, and the City of Toronto most recently voted for.

However, Niagara's Regional Chair Jim Bradley pointed out some people don't like rules when it comes to staying in a shelter, preferring to stay in tent communities. "It's not an enjoyable situation by any means, but they have the freedom to do exactly as they please. They may not have the freedom to do exactly as they please in a shelter situation."

The Chair added they get calls and emails from residents who say it's not fair to them that tent communities remain nearby. Many tent communities deal with problems such as drug use, abuse and uncleaness.

The Region's Director of Homelessness Services Cathy Cousins says this is province-wide and beyond. "It's a difficult decision of where you put your investments. You invest in shelter, you don't have money for supportive housing, and we don't want to be the emergency room with no beds and doctors behind it, either. So, we have some difficult decisions to make and I look forward to a full some conversation."

She adds in spite of recent funding, which is great, it'll be another 5 years before the situation improves.

Some People Prefer Street to Shelter: Chair

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