THUNDER BAY — In a reversal of two previous recommendations, city staff will recommend Kam River Heritage Park as the site for the city’s shelter village during Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.
Administration is recommending the site Kam River site over their previous recommendation of a Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) property, which council initially approved but ultimately rejected at the ratification stage.
“The site that is being recommended, Kam River, has a few advantages over (the LRCA) site," said Rilee Willianen, the city's encampment response lead.
"Mainly those are that it's municipally owned; it's closer to supportive services that people who are experiencing homelessness are likely to access; it is a location of a current encampment (that has been a current encampment for years); it's better aligned with the city's growth goals; and there is a perception that there will be less negative economic impact at this location.”
Last November, city staff recommended against Kam River Heritage Park because the cost of that site exceeded the $5 million cap on the project at approximately $7 million for 100 units due to construction taking place in the winter months.
The current recommendation would see 80 units built this summer, according to Willianen.
Coun. Kasey Etreni put the Kam River site back on the table when she motioned for a recount of the vote on Coun. Mark Bentz's motion to chose a site on Cumberland Street North, near the Journey to Life Centre.
The Cumberland site was defeated in the recount, paving the way for Etreni to ask staff for a comparison of the Kam River Heritage Park and LRCA sites.
The proposed shelter village would stay in place for five years. By investing in the infrastructure for the village, the city also plans to revitalize Kam River Park.
According to a news release issued Friday, the Kam River site would include up to 80 heated, powered, and lockable units, along with shared washrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and 24/7 staffing and security including on-site health care, housing navigation, and social services.
“One of the things that I really like about the Kam River proposal though is that by bringing city services here when the village is gone after four or five years, whatever the timeline happens to be, that we're going to have services here to actually revitalize this park and really do some community building down here,” sais McKellar Ward Coun. Brian Hamilton.
“It's a great area on the beautiful river, and I think there's enormous potential here to be an incredible amenity in the downtown Southside.”
Hamilton says, people living in encampments are “ready to transition.”
“Ultimately the intake process is going to be an important piece here and ultimately this village is going to be for the people and residents that are ready for the most critical thing that they need in their life, which we all need. We often take for granted is stability, reliability and safety,” says Hamilton.
Council will need to make a final decision on where to put the shelter village no later than the first week of May or risk losing $2.8 million in external funding, according to Willianen.
Construction must begin in July and completed by December to retain the funds, says Willianen.
