Latest news with #supportivehousing
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Police, bylaw officers move in on Coquitlam encampment
Vancouver Watch The city moved in to clear an encampment outside a homeless shelter, but the province says not enough is being done to set up supportive housing in the Tri-Cities.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
City and province point fingers as encampment outside Coquitlam homeless shelter cleaned up
The city moved in to clear an encampment outside a homeless shelter, but the province says not enough is being done to set up supportive housing. Almost as soon as the homeless shelter at 3030 Gordon Ave. in Coquitlam opened its doors, people began living in tents outside. The encampment has grown over the years, and the city says it's become a hazard to residents and the neighbouring businesses. 'We have had close to 30 fires break out, including some residents that have very unfortunately been injured,' said Coquitlam Coun. Matt Djonlic. On Thursday morning, bylaw officers accompanied by RCMP moved in to clean up the camp, removing propane tanks and other combustable materials in preparation for a deep clean of the area, which has become a biohazard. 'This is not at all about removing tents, taking residents' personal possessions,' Djonlic said. 'This is about safety for the unhoused residents who are there, as well as the larger community.' The province says the encampment outside the Gordon Avenue shelter is proof there aren't enough supportive housing units in the region, and it blames local government. 'On several occasions, I've met with leadership of the Tri-Cities to say, 'We have dollars, we will put the dollars in place if you identify a site that you have that you will zone to allow this type of housing,'' said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. 'We are ready to move. And every time we've raised that issue, we've heard, 'Somebody else should do it.'' Djonlic insists the city isn't blocking more supportive housing in Coquitlam. 'This idea of simply, 'Give us city land.' It's a lot more complex than what the minister, I think, is making it out to be,' he said. 'Where would that be? Where does that make sense? And again, I remind the minister, we have done exactly that, and we are being met with challenges outside 3030 Gordon. We cannot have another case of a shelter like this where we are having encampments outside,' Djonlic said. The CEO of a medical clinic near the Gordon Avenue shelter has pleaded with the city to do something about the encampment. 'Our concern is to have safe environments for our patients, for our staff,' said Arash Boloori of MedRay Imaging. 'We have had many issues for our patients and staff.' He says there have been broken windows, human feces and dead bodies outside the clinic, and he's been forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars in security to keep staff and patients safe. 'I think those concerns are valid, and it's exactly where we run into instances where neighborhoods push back,' said Djonlic. 'And we are seeing now other local governments who are pointing to 3030 Gordon and saying, 'Look how it doesn't work in Coquitlam, that's why we aren't going to offer it in our communities.'' The councillor wants to see a commitment for more wraparound supports from the province before another shelter is opened in Coquitlam, but the housing minister insists nothing can happen without a parcel of land from the city. 'Many communities are stepping forward with locations, but Tri-Cities is one of the more frustrating areas in the province right now where there is a significant need, but we just cannot find the locations to get this housing on the ground,' said Kahlon. After the cleanup is complete, Djonlic knows most – if not all – of the people who had tents outside the Gordon Avenue shelter will return, and they won't be forced to leave. 'They don't have elsewhere to go,' he said. Maggie Moudatsos is one of them. She's split her time between the shelter and the encampment outside for the past three years. 'We are not here to be slobs, we are not here to interfere, but where are we supposed to go?' she said. 'I'm on disability. Who will rent to me? And for how much?' For her, and a handful of other entrenched residents, the encampment is home.
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Planting purpose: the impact of gardening at this Fredericton shelter
Talk of gardening echoes through the cafe at Fredericton's Oak Centre. Residents sit in small groups, sipping their morning coffee while giving updates to each other about how their plants are growing in the community garden. It's music to the ears of peer support worker Donald Parker who knows first hand how important it is to have something to look forward to. "They're excited to come out in the mornings and weed and plant," Parker said. Oak Centre is a supportive housing complex operated by the John Howard Society for people experiencing or who have experienced homelessness. Now in its fourth season, Parker has seen the difference the centre's community garden has had on residents. "They're proud of what they're doing. They feel like they got a purpose. They feel like they matter. You know, they're not thinking about the stigma that people put on them," he said. The community garden is surrounded by a wooden fence, where grape vines hug one corner. Inside are 43 raised garden beds and a shed to store gardening tools. Parker got involved after his own struggle with addiction and mental health. "I had my own dark demons and I had my own addictions that I had to deal with," he said. "For years I was addicted to cocaine and was drinking and doing other pills." After a stay in a rehabilitation centre, he began working with others and eventually trained to become a peer support worker. His past experience in carpentry made him the ideal person to turn the idea of a community garden at Oak Centre into a reality. WATCH | 'A reason to wake up in the morning' Community garden at Fredericton's Oak Centre brings residents 'to life' 1 hour ago Duration 2:46 "They knew what they wanted, they just didn't know how to put it together," Parker said. He understood how important a space like a garden could be because when he returned home from rehab, he remembers needing something to do. "My whole life at that time was the place that I went." Parker said his personal experience helps him relate to residents. "Having a key and a front door is a big thing and once you do house these people, they need something to do." For many, that something is gardening. "They get in here, they plant their own stuff, tomatoes or cucumbers, they use it to go up to their units and cook their own tomato sandwiches," Parker said. "I heard some stories about them making pizza out of the tomatoes and basil that they harvested from this garden," Beyonce Guiao said. Guiao is working as a summer student at Oak Centre. She applied for the job because it looked like a fun gardening gig. But the job has become so much more to her. "I realized it's not just gardening. It's also being able to be a part of something that helps foster a sense of community in this place and it's such a fulfilling job," Guiao said. She's responsible for maintaining the garden, signing up residents to participate, and getting donations like seeds and gardening tools. Parker said many materials needed to build the garden were donated. "It's great how the community comes together and reaches out at a time like this," Parker said. "That's what helps eliminate the stigma that comes around with living rough, you know, it's just beautiful to see." Parker said the garden just opened for the summer a week ago.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- CTV News
Man accused of break-ins at supportive housing development
Guelph Police have charged a 41-year-old man after repeated break-ins were reported inside a supportive housing development. He allegedly went into an area of the building where he wasn't allowed and tampered with the door. Police said he damaged the door's lock. He then tried to get into another resident's unit, and also ended up damaging the unit's key card reader. The damage was estimated at $1,200 total. Police arrested the 41-year-old on Thursday. After his arrest, officers said they found a small amount of suspected fentanyl. The man was charged with break and enter, two counts of mischief, possessing a controlled substance and three counts of breaching court orders.
CBC
20-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Supportive housing complex in Sydney offers stability for vulnerable people
For Lisa Dowling, moving into Eleanor's Court has meant more than just a roof over her head. "There has to be a word better than 'love' to describe it, because it's great," said Dowling. "I finally have my own apartment. This is the stability I was looking for." Dowling is one of 25 tenants now living in the affordable and supportive housing development in Sydney, N.S. Tenants could be people who are homeless or have precarious housing. Eleanor's Court is a collaboration between New Dawn Enterprises, which owns the building, and the Cape Breton Ally Centre, which provides the staff. How this rapid housing project may save lives 2 months ago Duration 1:56 It offers 24/7 on-site security and staff to support the residents. Dowling said she lost her housing after being hospitalized for three months following several surgeries. She had also broken up with her boyfriend and discovered he had made her apartment uninhabitable while she was away. On top of that, she was still struggling with the death of her 18-year-old daughter. Then Dowling found herself homeless. "I was bounced around from house to house and was pushing a cart around town every day wondering where to sleep," she said. Then, she got a spot at the Pine Tree Park Pallet Village. The village consists of 35 temporary shelters that provide privacy and safety for vulnerable people. That is also run by the Ally Centre and New Dawn. Twenty-four out of the twenty-five residents at Eleanor's Court have also lived in the pallet shelters, freeing up more space for people who are homeless. Dowling spent six months at the village before moving to Eleanor's Court. She said she enjoyed her time there but being so far out of town made life difficult. Now she's downtown, where she can walk to the pharmacy, go to a local café, or take her new kitten, Ebony, for walks. "It's just it's perfect.… There's nothing I can say bad about it and all." There was some opposition to the apartment complex when construction was announced in 2023. Residents in the area were concerned with the appearance of the complex as well and its proximity to other residences. Bryanna MacLean, a peer support worker at Eleanor's Court, said there are misconceptions about the people living in the complex, adding many assume the residents are criminals or troublemakers. "Everyone here is just another person who has their own struggles and are trying to get through the day like everyone else," said MacLean. So far, she said everything is going smoothly since opening a few weeks ago. "I think a lot of people are adjusting nicely. I mean, it's just awesome that everybody has their own place and can kind of have refuge." The apartments are rented to residents based on income. They are allowed to stay as long as they like, but MacLean said if someone eventually wants a larger space, staff will do their best to help them find housing elsewhere. But for now, Dowling is grateful to be where she is. "We were all given a Golden Willy Wonka ticket," she said.
