Proposed homeless shelter bylaw causing rift in Cobourg
The head of Northumberland County’s Transition House — an emergency homeless shelter looking to establish itself in a new facility in Cobourg — says a proposed bylaw recently established by Cobourg council could handcuff much of what it is proposing for the community.
“If the bylaw were to be implemented immediately, Transition House’s operations would be significantly jeopardized,” the organization’s executive director Ike Nwibe wrote in a letter to Cobourg council.
Some of the stipulations or conditions included in the bylaw have caused a rift between the municipality that would be home to the shelter at 310 Division St. in Cobourg and Northumberland County, which is a partner in operating the facility.
The bylaw, which would come into effect March 28 without an agreement with the county, requires 24/7 security on-site and within 500 metres, a code of conduct for shelter occupants that aligns with the town’s nuisance bylaw, a maintenance schedule for items like litter and waste accumulation within 500 metres of a shelter facility, and a local 24/7 contact who is available to respond to matters involving the facility within one hour for any issue.
As well, the bylaw calls for shelter directors or officers to be personally liable for the adherence to the bylaw, including occupants’ behaviour off-site.
In an update given to county council on March 6, county staff said many of the stipulations would be cost prohibitive and would affect Transition House’s ability to attract or keep board members because of personal liability.
They said it isn’t feasible to monitor the behaviour and actions of shelter clients once they leave the premises.
Cobourg council moved to create the bylaw after dozens of complaints by town residents who fear the impact of the shelter on the neighbourhood around Division Street.
In February, Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland made it clear that any agreement allowing Northumberland County to operate a homeless shelter within the town must address the issue of extra expenses incurred by the town. “When a shelter like this is put into a community, there are increased expenses for that community,” he told county council during discussions held Feb. 21 around the proposed shelter.
“Why are we using Cobourg tax dollars to fund our police to provide social service delivery in Cobourg, when that should be the responsibility of the county?” he asked.
Late last year, the town learned the former Cobourg Retirement Residence — a 47-bedroom complex at 310 Division St. — could be transformed this spring to serve as a new homeless shelter for the Northumberland region.
On Dec. 4, the county issued a release stating it was partnering with Transition House — the designated shelter operator — on “a new facility to modernize shelter services and address community need,” purchasing the building for $2.3 million.
The property was acquired in collaboration with Transition House to maintain a 35-bedroom complex and to update its current location on Chapel Street in Cobourg.
In the weeks since, Cobourg council, as well as dozens of Cobourg residents, have expressed concerns about how the shelter might impact the community in terms of costs, cleanup, and safety for its Division Street neighbours.
During the special county council meeting held Wednesday, Cleveland said the county was “fear mongering” with regard to its opposition of some of the bylaw’s stipulations, particularly among exemptions for other shelter operations in the community.
“If there was no reaching out from Cobourg, why is there no reaching out from this staff level to Cobourg on their concern prior to putting all these reports to the public?” Cleveland asked at the meeting.
“I find it interesting when the blame is being put on Cobourg staff for not providing exemptions, yet all these assumptions are being made by this level of government without actually doing the research or questioning the lower tier about the intent.”
After a lengthy closed session to discuss the matter, a motion was made at the county level to ask Cobourg to amend the bylaw to exempt emergency receptions centres and evacuation shelters.
Cleveland called it an unneeded request.
“It is my belief that this request of Cobourg is to further instill a concern and fear among the residents of Northumberland about a bylaw that has nothing to do with emergency evacuations.”
A community engagement report prepared by the county is expected to be released March 20.
County staff said many of the stipulations would be cost prohibitive and would affect Transition House’s ability to attract or keep board members