Yesterday I went door-to-door in the area around where the city has proposed to build temporary housing for the homeless (at Miles and Simpson). My staff and I have spent the last few days talking to both business owners and residents in the area. 100% of the business owners that we talked to oppose the plan, as does the Fort William BIA. As for residents, one person said he "didn't mind" if they built the housing near him and another suggested he was not totally opposed but who also indicated he would prefer if it was put somewhere else. Other than these two, everyone opposed placing the project at the Miles Street site. Furthermore, when we went door-to-door and asked people if they had been consulted, everyone replied that they had not, with the exception of those interested people who chose to approach the city of their own accord. If there were public meetings, no one seemed to have heard of them.
In the city's press release they claim they listened carefully to the concerns of both residents and businesses. Furthermore, they claim “strong public support” as "68% of respondents favoured this location". It is worth noting that this was an online survey that was open to everyone, so for all we know all the votes were from places like Current River and Nipigon and few, if any, were actually from those living in the south core. People were given two choices: the Miles Street site and the Kam River site; there was no alternative or ability to choose "neither".
The city claims that they engaged in broad consultation and listened to stakeholders before making their decision. Neither part of that claim seems to be true. It doesn't seem they adequately consulted or listened to south side residents. If they did listen, they chose to totally disregard the interests of the overwhelming majority of south side residents.
We should not be disregarding the concerns of people from this part of the city, especially when many of those who advocate for the Miles Street site don’t live in, don’t have businesses in, and were not elected to represent, that part of town. As much as some people think they know better than the people in the south core, I think the people living there can determine for themselves what is in their best interest.
Many people have suggested that I have not offered solutions to this problem. If they had more carefully read what I have said previously, they would know that I have. The city owns numerous properties in various locations across town. Interested individuals can view these sites online. I have suggested severalsites to the city, which I believe are preferable to the Miles Street site, as placing the project on these sites would adversely affect significantly fewer people. If the city deems that none of these properties are suitable, they ought to consider purchasing another site. Land in this city is, for the most part, not expensive.
Once again, I do not oppose the temporary village project. I would however suggest that the interests of the homeless would better be served by placing them in housing with full wraparound services that offer them the supports that they need, rather than placing them in subsistence level housing without offering them hope or support.
A human rights approach involves recognizing the rights and interests of everyone, not totally disregarding the interests of one segment of society in favour of another. Many who live and work around the south core are not rich or well-connected politically. They are, however, deserving of our consideration. The members of this community have clearly said what they want. Let us hope the city listens.