Relocating services
Community Outreach Centre ready to open at new site on Park Street
After two years of controversy, the Community Outreach Centre is set to open in a new home this weekend. The centre, which offers a warm place and connections for people struggling with homelessness or addiction, will now operate at 15 Park St., Charlottetown.
That's where the province has been running an overnight emergency shelter since December of 2022.
The province announced its intention to relocate its outreach service in November and got city council approval on Jan. 22.
With a self-appointed timeline of 60 days, March 23 is the deadline, Housing Minister Rob Lantz said in a March 20 SaltWire interview.
While Lantz couldn’t guarantee the new site would open without delay because it is an active construction site, he hoped to see an occupancy permit from the city on March 22, he said.
“It’s been a real community effort, to be quite honest, to make this happen. So, I’m not too concerned if it takes a couple days extra. They’re doing some work to hook up some water and sewer services right now, which is a pretty substantial piece of work.”
REVISED APPROACH
When the province announced its relocation plans, the government brought in Carlene Donnelly as a consultant.
Her input has already led to changes, including the intake and triage process, Lantz said.
“She has made a lot of observations. We’ve got a bit of a draft interim report from her, but we expect a final report soon that will have some more concrete recommendations.”
According to an amended motion in the legislature on March 20, the province is considering keeping emergency shelters open for 24
hours but is waiting for Donnelly's report.
In the meantime, having the outreach centre’s daytime services on the same site as the overnight shelter makes that shelter a de facto 24-hour operation, Lantz said.
When the city approved the relocation, one of the conditions was that the province set up a task force or working group with representatives from the city, province and area residents.
Donnelly is working out the terms of reference for this group, Lantz said.
QUESTION PERIOD
Looking ahead at the future of the former curling club building – where the outreach centre has operated for two years – Lantz said the province will take input from residents. But he would like to see the building torn down, he said.
During question period in the P.E.I. legislature on March 20, Lantz answered questions from Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly about drug use on site at the new location.
The revised outreach centre will operate similarly to the shelter that’s been on Park Street since December, 2022, Lantz said in the legislature.
“There is a completely separate building just inside the property where clients are screened, not just for what they’re bringing with them but why they’re here. There will be lockers for them to leave any possessions behind so that we’ve got a safe, secure environment for people to come within the property and access services that are provided there.”
CITY COMMITTEE
The relocation came up at Charlottetown council’s March 20 protective and emergency services committee, where Police Chief Brad MacConnell updated councillors.
“Our officers will join Park Street staff to go knock on doors in the area of influence to certainly inform residents but also an opportunity to engage them and hear their concerns and how we can work together to lessen the impact that this move might have,” MacConnell said.
Deputy mayor Alanna Jankov asked about the area of influence – a 20-minute walking distance from the outreach centre – and whether everyone within this range would be informed.
MacConnell said the police, along with staff from the shelter and outreach centre, will start in the middle and work their way outwards.
During the committee, Mayor Philip Brown noted the Eastlink Centre, which is a block from Park Street, has purchased 30 security cameras.
Lantz didn’t confirm this number but did say the Eastlink Centre has been beefing up the security system it already has. The province has not paid for this, Lantz said.