THUNDER BAY - A public meeting is being held later this week to provide residents in the Junot Avenue area an opportunity to express concerns or support for a proposed Indigenous housing facility in the area.
“The meeting is generally to let residents know,” said Albert Aiello, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club. “A lot of residents have not been notified regarding the proposed development. That’s very concerning to us.”
Last month, Thunder Bay city council voted in favour of selling a parcel of land adjacent to the Superior North EMS headquarters to Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, which is proposing to build a 58-bed facility with an estimated cost of $12 million.
The original proposal was for a 20-bed facility but Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services decided to expand the project.
The facility will provide housing for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre will provide wraparound programming.
But according to Aiello, there are still a lot of questions surrounding the proposed facility that he is hoping will be answered at the public meeting.
“There’s not too much information regarding the development out there,” he said. “We want to get a feel on how residents are feeling. We as the Boys and Girls Club oppose the development for a number of reasons.”
Aiello said his understanding is that it is not a youth centre but will house people between the ages of 18 and 29-years-old. He also has concerns that some of these individuals may also be dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues.
“They will be put in a facility not only next to the Boys and Girls Club but Hammarskjold High School and St. Pius School directly in our back yard. And also directly across the street from the Windsor/Picton/Blucher area, which is well known and well documented with a number of issues as well.”
“For us, it’s all about ensuring our children are safe.”
The meeting hosted by Red River Ward councilor, Brian McKinnon, will held at the Boys and Girls Club on Thursday, June 20 at 7 p.m.
