The social services board in the Nipissing District says 24-7 homeless shelter service and support will continue at its current location on Chippewa Street in North Bay until a new hub location can be found.
The current location at the site of the 60-bed Northern Pines Transitional Housing Complex is located across the street from a high school.
That has caused a public outcry and sparked concern from the school board about safety and expenses incurred.
“We basically have no choice but to stay at Northern Pines with respect to the warming centre,” said Mark King, chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board.
The shelter service is delivered by the Crisis Centre North Bay, providing immediate, coordinated support for homeless people while longer-term solutions are explored.
Officials said it has been a success since the cold weather housing response program launched, adding there’s been a reduction in police and emergency service calls.
Safety concerns
“It’s tough trying to deal with all of these social issues going on,” King said.
But safety concerns remain. School board trustees recently sent Mayor Peter Chirico a letter requesting a meeting to outline the growing number of risks and expenses incurred by the school board with the shelter located across the street from Chippewa Secondary School.
“Chippewa students, staff and school community members experience distress and trauma when interacting with clients of the shelter,” the letter said, adding that funding ongoing expenses is not sustainable.
The social services board said it’s working with the school board, city and police and that these conversations have led to on-site security, among other measures, to enhance safety.
“There’s a good working relationship between their administration and our administrator,” King said.
“I can tell you that the crisis centre has been involved in those discussions.”
The social service organizations are teaming up to find a suitable integrated shelter hub location. So far, 13 sites have been assessed but none have met the complex requirements necessary for a permanent facility.
“Quite frankly, there’s no ideal situation in my mind,” King said.
“It’ll be, you know, a situation where lesser evil will prevail.”
The factors for choosing a new site include appropriate zoning, building size and layout, accessibility, whether the location is near services and community impact.
