Latest news with #DowntownMission
CBC
10-07-2025
- CBC
Resident near Downtown Mission feels leadership 'indifferent' as issues mount
Executive director says she takes concerns to heart, but some issues outside of Mission control "Indifferent to the community" is how Pelissier Street resident Paul Synnott is describing the leadership of Windsor's Downtown Mission — because of issues he sees living near the Ouellette Avenue homeless shelter and a recent incident where the beam from a laser pointer hit his eye. "All we as residents are asking for is the Mission to make a good faith, honest attempt to control the behaviour," Synnott told CBC Windsor. "Every engagement anybody has ever had with the Mission, it's almost like a form letter." Synnott's home is just across the street from the fenced yard at the rear of the Mission. He said that on a nightly basis, the adjacent sidewalks and lots are scenes of drug use, drug dealing, fights and public indecency. On top of that, residents are constantly dealing with property damage and theft attempts, Synnott said. Synnott says the incident that broke his patience with the Mission was suffering a laser pointer beam to his eye as a result of a person on Mission property playing with the device. "[Laser pointers] can literally burn your retina, damage your eye permanently," Synnott said. Laser pointer incident symptom of a larger problem: Neighbour According to Synnott, the incident happened on the night of July 6, when he was inside his home and noticed a green beam dancing on his walls. When he turned to look outside, the beam went into the corner of his left eye. "It was like somebody sticking a sharp stick in the corner of my eye," Synnott said. "It hurt immediately." Synnott said he went out onto his porch, and realized that the beam was coming from a laser pointer in the hands of a person on the property of the Downtown Mission. Image | Downtown Mission Caption: People gathered outside the fenced rear yard of the Downtown Mission of Windsor, at night. (Submitted by Paul Synnott) Open Image in New Tab "I mean, I could see the man sitting at a bench in the Mission compound," Synnott said. "He heard and saw me coming, and he booked it pretty quick." Synnott says he has since spoken with Windsor police officers about it — but he feels the incident is only a symptom of a larger problem. Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, the executive director of the Downtown Mission, told CBC Windsor that she's aware of Synnott's criticisms, and she has spoken with him personally. "I'm sorry he feels that way," Ponniah-Goulin said. "I take those [comments] to heart. I apologize for making him feel that way... but there's only so much we can do." The laser pointer incident was not recorded on the Mission's security cameras, and staff have not reported any issues involving a client carrying a laser pointer, Ponniah-Goulin said. Pelissier Street residents have had complaints about the Downtown Mission since the organization moved its shelter services to 875 Ouellette Ave. in June 2022. Although the Mission has rules for people on its property, it's common for Mission clients to gather in nearby off-site areas — such as the vacant building that was previously the Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library and a nearby vacant office building. Ponniah-Goulin said there are staff members present on Mission property at all times, and there are volunteers who clean up around the Mission property three times a day. "We are not Windsor police. We can only manage what's happening on our property," she pointed out. "If anything is happening elsewhere — on other people's property, or in public on the road or on the sidewalk... that is out of our hands, unfortunately." Ponniah-Goulin encouraged anyone who notices problems on the Mission property to take photos or videos, and contact the Mission. But issues outside the Mission grounds should be brought to police. "Some of the individuals that we've seen in pictures or videos don't even get any services at the Mission," she said. "We have no control over these people." According to Ponniah-Goulin, the Downtown Mission still considers 875 Ouellette Ave. to be a temporary location of its shelter services: The long-term plan remains to move those services to a location close to the City of Windsor's Homelessness and Housing Help Hub, once that "H4" facility is established. But the city's plans for the location of that hub are in flux. Previously announced plans for a prospective site for the hub have been cancelled, and council asked city administration this past spring to look at revisiting the idea that the H4 must be within a 2.5-kilometre radius of the downtown core. Dana Paladino, the city's acting commissioner of human and health services, said that work continues on that report. She noted that any exploration of a specific property for the H4 would require assessments including environmental, archeological and financial. Ponniah-Goulin said it could be four to five years before the Downtown Mission changes the location of its shelter services. "I think the issues are being addressed, little by little," she said. "There are higher levels of government that are getting involved, which is wonderful." Longtime Victoria Avenue resident Peg Dorner said she sympathizes with Synnott and other Pelissier Street residents: She also had a lot to complain about when the Downtown Mission's shelter services were located at 664 Victoria Ave., just up the street from her home. "We saw all of that here," Dorner said. "But when the Mission moved — even if it's just a block and a half away now — all of that moved away from the neighbourhood. It has become a much more relaxed neighbourhood." "I know the residents [of Pelissier Street] are just beside themselves. And for absolute good reason." But Dorner says she doesn't think it ostracizes clients of the Mission to point out the issues — and says she feels services should be decentralized and spread out across the city. Synnott says he intends to continue to call public attention to the problems around the Downtown Mission. But he also believes the Mission isn't solely responsible for those problems, and he's not trying to vilify people who are homeless or have substance abuse or mental health issues. "This is a microcosm," Synnott said. "My goal is to get politicians to understand. "I've issued a challenge and an invitation to the premier: Come visit. Just come visit me and sit with me on the porch at six in the morning or 10 at night."
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Resident near Downtown Mission feels leadership 'indifferent' as issues mount
"Indifferent to the community" is how Pelissier Street resident Paul Synnott is describing the leadership of Windsor's Downtown Mission — because of issues he sees living near the Ouellette Avenue homeless shelter and a recent incident where the beam from a laser pointer hit his eye. "All we as residents are asking for is the Mission to make a good faith, honest attempt to control the behaviour," Synnott told CBC Windsor. "Every engagement anybody has ever had with the Mission, it's almost like a form letter." Synnott's home is just across the street from the fenced yard at the rear of the Mission. He said that on a nightly basis, the adjacent sidewalks and lots are scenes of drug use, drug dealing, fights and public indecency. On top of that, residents are constantly dealing with property damage and theft attempts, Synnott said. Synnott says the incident that broke his patience with the Mission was suffering a laser pointer beam to his eye as a result of a person on Mission property playing with the device. "[Laser pointers] can literally burn your retina, damage your eye permanently," Synnott said. Laser pointer incident symptom of a larger problem: Neighbour According to Synnott, the incident happened on the night of July 6, when he was inside his home and noticed a green beam dancing on his walls. When he turned to look outside, the beam went into the corner of his left eye. "It was like somebody sticking a sharp stick in the corner of my eye," Synnott said. "It hurt immediately." Synnott said he went out onto his porch, and realized that the beam was coming from a laser pointer in the hands of a person on the property of the Downtown Mission. "I mean, I could see the man sitting at a bench in the Mission compound," Synnott said. "He heard and saw me coming, and he booked it pretty quick." Synnott says he has since spoken with Windsor police officers about it — but he feels the incident is only a symptom of a larger problem. Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, the executive director of the Downtown Mission, told CBC Windsor that she's aware of Synnott's criticisms, and she has spoken with him personally. "I'm sorry he feels that way," Ponniah-Goulin said. "I take those [comments] to heart. I apologize for making him feel that way... but there's only so much we can do." The laser pointer incident was not recorded on the Mission's security cameras, and staff have not reported any issues involving a client carrying a laser pointer, Ponniah-Goulin said. Pelissier Street residents have had complaints about the Downtown Mission since the organization moved its shelter services to 875 Ouellette Ave. in June 2022. Although the Mission has rules for people on its property, it's common for Mission clients to gather in nearby off-site areas — such as the vacant building that was previously the Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library and a nearby vacant office building. Ponniah-Goulin said there are staff members present on Mission property at all times, and there are volunteers who clean up around the Mission property three times a day. "We are not Windsor police. We can only manage what's happening on our property," she pointed out. "If anything is happening elsewhere — on other people's property, or in public on the road or on the sidewalk... that is out of our hands, unfortunately." Ponniah-Goulin encouraged anyone who notices problems on the Mission property to take photos or videos, and contact the Mission. But issues outside the Mission grounds should be brought to police. "Some of the individuals that we've seen in pictures or videos don't even get any services at the Mission," she said. "We have no control over these people." According to Ponniah-Goulin, the Downtown Mission still considers 875 Ouellette Ave. to be a temporary location of its shelter services: The long-term plan remains to move those services to a location close to the City of Windsor's Homelessness and Housing Help Hub, once that "H4" facility is established. But the city's plans for the location of that hub are in flux. Previously announced plans for a prospective site for the hub have been cancelled, and council asked city administration this past spring to look at revisiting the idea that the H4 must be within a 2.5-kilometre radius of the downtown core. Dana Paladino, the city's acting commissioner of human and health services, said that work continues on that report. She noted that any exploration of a specific property for the H4 would require assessments including environmental, archeological and financial. Ponniah-Goulin said it could be four to five years before the Downtown Mission changes the location of its shelter services. "I think the issues are being addressed, little by little," she said. "There are higher levels of government that are getting involved, which is wonderful." Longtime Victoria Avenue resident Peg Dorner said she sympathizes with Synnott and other Pelissier Street residents: She also had a lot to complain about when the Downtown Mission's shelter services were located at 664 Victoria Ave., just up the street from her home. "We saw all of that here," Dorner said. "But when the Mission moved — even if it's just a block and a half away now — all of that moved away from the neighbourhood. It has become a much more relaxed neighbourhood." "I know the residents [of Pelissier Street] are just beside themselves. And for absolute good reason." But Dorner says she doesn't think it ostracizes clients of the Mission to point out the issues — and says she feels services should be decentralized and spread out across the city. Synnott says he intends to continue to call public attention to the problems around the Downtown Mission. But he also believes the Mission isn't solely responsible for those problems, and he's not trying to vilify people who are homeless or have substance abuse or mental health issues. "This is a microcosm," Synnott said. "My goal is to get politicians to understand. "I've issued a challenge and an invitation to the premier: Come visit. Just come visit me and sit with me on the porch at six in the morning or 10 at night."
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Downtown Mission to move with H4
The search to find a spot to put the H4 Homeless Hub continues. And, the Downtown Mission said it'll relocate with it. CTV Windsor's Travis Fortnum reports.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Downtown Mission plans move with Windsor's H4 to better serve clients — and neighbours
Leadership at the Downtown Mission says the Ouellette Avenue location was never meant to be permanent. Seen in Windsor, Ont. on May 27, 2025. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor) The Downtown Mission says it plans to move alongside Windsor's Homelessness and Housing Help Hub — a relocation that could significantly reshape how the city delivers support to its most vulnerable. Executive Director Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin told CTV News the Mission hopes to co-relocate with the H4 when the city finds a permanent site for the homelessness hub. 'We have every intention and hope of going there with them,' she said. 'Or relocating close to it, if not right on the property.' While the Mission has operated its shelter and services out of a building on Ouellette Avenue since 2017, Ponniah-Goulin said that site was never meant to be permanent. In a new location, she said she'd like to see features that support both clients and the surrounding neighbourhood. 'An enclosed space in the back for our clients to have some privacy,' she said. 'But also, so our neighbours — whether they be businesses or residential homeowners — don't necessarily have to be faced with the clients every day.' She said staff are already working closely with the city, as the search for a permanent home for the H4 resumes. Council voted this week to remove a previously imposed two-kilometre boundary from the downtown core, allowing potential H4 locations to be considered citywide. Mayor Drew Dilkens acknowledged the shift won't be easy. 'Nobody wants this next door to them,' he said. He added the city's goal is to find a location that works for the people who use the hub — and for those who live nearby. 'A lot of the behaviours that play out are unwanted behaviours by many of the residents,' Dilkens said. 'And so, we're going to try and find a location that makes sense within our city.' Water World was only intended as a temporary home for the H4 when it opened in 2020. A proposed move to Wellington Avenue was shelved late last year due to cost. The mayor said identifying a new location could still take years.
CBC
26-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Homelessness and housing help site can relocate anywhere in Windsor, says council
The future permanent location of Windsor's Homelessness and Housing Help Hub will no longer be limited to a two-kilometre radius of the downtown core, council has decided. On Monday, the majority of city council voted to lift the previously-imposed boundaries and allow staff to look for potential H4 sites across Windsor. The H4 is currently temporarily operating out of the former Windsor Water World building at Wyandotte Street East and Glengarry Avenue. The hub operates year-round, offering help and drop-in services to those seeking shelter. It's also an emergency overnight shelter during cold weather. A study that was undertaken by the city in 2022 outlined that the H4 should be located within two kilometres of downtown Windsor. The reasoning was that the help hub should be accessible to those who need its services most, and also be near healthcare services. A property at 700 Wellington Ave. was selected by the city as a permanent site for the H4 — with the proposed facility offering 64 one-bedroom units. Leadership of the Downtown Mission of Windsor said they would re-locate to be closer to the Wellington Avenue site. In late 2024, city council cancelled the plan, citing costs. The new widening of the site-selection process was driven by downtown councillor Renaldo Agostino. At the May 12 council meeting, Agostino questioned the two-kilometre restriction, and argued that the city's efforts to improve the downtown core were "not working." On Monday, Ward 10 Coun. Jim Morrison said he supports expanding the area for the H4 because "it looks like we've been doing nothing." Ward 8 Coun. Gary Kaschak said he's in favour of finding a new site, but he believes a boundary needs to be in place to ensure the H4 is connected to downtown services. Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac agreed. "I think we have to be cognizant of the fact that the community took part in an extensive undertaking," Gignac said. Gignac expressed worry that the city has set expectations for other service providers that the H4 would be downtown. Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis shared that concern — but he supports expanding where the H4 can be located. "We can't lose sight of what the key objective is, and the ripple effects," Francis said. City staff say more services inside H4 allow for wider site selection At Monday's council meeting, city staff members said they believe improvements to what the H4 offers will allow them to select a site outside the previously determined boundaries. "I don't know if a two-kilometre radius is necessarily best practice," said Dana Paladino, the city's acting commissioner of human and health services. "Location to the emergency room is not as critical as it was." According to Paladino, the H4 now benefits from Shelter Health, a service that provides emergency care for people using shelter spaces. Paladino said mental health care supports are also being added to the H4, and court services are more accessible today because of the prevalence of virtual meetings. As a result of council's decision on Monday, city staff will now consider potential sites for the H4 city-wide, then bring a list for council to review. From there, council will select the site and ask upper levels of government for funding to build the facility.
