North Kentville residents seek answers
Community meeting a forum to ask questions, comment on Exhibition Street location
ANorth Kentville resident concerned over a shelter village to be established on Exhibition Street left a community meeting with more questions than answers. Following the Feb. 7 meeting at the Kentville Fire Hall, Ruth Dugie said everyone in the community knows there’s a homelessness crisis and wants it addressed. It isn’t about not wanting to help the homeless.
Dugie went door-to-door in the community and learned that residents share similar concerns. One major concern is the understanding that the provincial government previously had another site in mind, behind the Kentville Justice Centre.
Dugie said some “more affluent” residential and commercial owners expressed their opposition, got a lawyer involved, and “all of a sudden the site was moved” to Exhibition Street.
“They went and announced the site ahead of time without any consultation to the community and no transparency, and that’s the biggest concern here,” Dugie said.
She said the question is whether 136 Exhibition St. is the appropriate site. It seems that North Kentville, traditionally a lower-income community, is a “dumping ground” for projects that aren’t wanted in other areas of Kings County.
Dugie said it was “extremely disappointing” that there wasn’t a representative of the Department of Community Services on hand at the meeting to answer questions relating to the site selection process and other concerns. Dugie said residents see that as the department not being accountable and not answering questions.
Meeting organizer Fiona Willows, who shared some details known about the project, said there would be 20 single-occupancy Pallet shelter units set up at the Exhibition Street site.
There will be washroom and laundry facilities and a community building with a communal kitchen.
The shelter village will always be staffed with at least two trained professionals from Open Arms Resource Centre.
“The Tiny Shelter Village is responsive and transitional housing that offers on-site support for residents’ basic needs,” Willows said. “The goal is successful transition to permanent housing.”
Open Arms Resource Centre shelter manager Amanda Hatt Gould said the village would be an additional dignified shelter option for people in the community who are currently sleeping outside or in unsafe locations. It will be fenced
and well-lit for the safety of shelter residents.
“Staff will work with the guests to develop individualized plans that meet their individual needs. Some people are looking for jobs. Some people are looking for housing because they already have a job,” Hatt Gould said.
She said that, as good neighbours, their guests and staff would ensure the “cleanliness and tidiness” of the space. There is zero tolerance for any violence, threats, or discrimination.
VOICING CONCERNS
Brenna Schneider, of North Kentville, shared concerns about construction and engineering specifications of the shelter units, Pallet’s prefabricated S2 Sleeper 70 model, which measures 70 square feet.
She asked about engineering sign-off requirements for shelter foundations and tiedowns. Schneider questioned the adequacy of wind, snow load, and fire ratings of the units. She also questioned who would be responsible for layout and separation.
“I’ve seen surveyors out there, but as of yet, we don’t know how they’re going to be set up,” Schneider said.
She said project proponents may have answers to these questions, “we just haven’t been provided them.” If exceptions to rules and regulations are being made, Schneider said, those exceptions should be extended to everyone.
John Andrew said he has been engaged with people in the community who are marginalized or at risk for 25 years.
“I’m probably conflicted as much as anyone if not more than most on this because I was the founder of Open Arms, the group that is being tasked with potentially leading this,” he said.
Andrew is no longer associated with Open Arms. He and a team of 43 volunteers saw a need to resume an emergency shelter and started Inn From the Cold at St. James Anglican Church in Kentville on Dec. 18. He said a similar program is set to begin in Middleton.
Andrew said shelters help, but adequate housing is really needed. About five years ago, he tried to launch a housing project. The project, which “could have housed 120 individuals with real dignity” was “shot down.” He said the provincial government contribution would have been $650,000.
“Do the math on this one,” Andrew said about the Pallet shelters. “It’s more expensive for something that looks like something out of a World War II movie.”
He asked how government decides to buy a product from Seattle when building shelters could have meant jobs for contractors here.
MLA WEIGHS IN
Kings North MLA and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr spoke to the residents and answer questions at the meeting. He said the homelessness problem has “really exploded” across North America, including Nova Scotia.
“We care deeply as a government and I care deeply personally about homeless people and helping them,” Lohr said.
He said the reality is the people who would benefit from the shelters are already in the community.
Lohr said his department funded the shelter purchase, while the Department of Community Services is managing the “wraparound services.” The provincial government is investing $7.5 million in the shelters across Nova Scotia.
He said the biggest expense is the “human element”, always having two people onsite to manage the shelters, and other professionals.
Regarding questions surrounding engineering specifications for the shelters, Lohr asked what the snow load or fire rating on a tent would be.
He said that when people are homeless and have nowhere to go, they’re extremely vulnerable to becoming victims of crime.
“The second thing we know is that if we can provide people with shelter and food, the actual crime in the area that they might commit themselves simply because they’re desperate, that crime will go down,” Lohr said.
He said 60 per cent of people who work for Pallet have lived experience with homelessness, and they’re bringing expertise that the province really doesn’t have.
Lohr said the provincial government’s site selection criteria was that the shelters go on provincially owned land. The subject property also had to meet certain criteria from Pallet, which the Exhibition Street location does, including “dignity standards.”
Lohr said there is concern about property values in the vicinity of shelter villages going down, but Pallet has assured them that studies show this doesn’t happen. The statement was met by laughter and groans from many residents in attendance.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Charlotte States, of North Kentville, said she doesn’t believe that anyone in the community feels that homeless people don’t matter or anyone would deny someone in need.
“What I have heard this evening doesn’t really help me a whole lot as a resident of the community.”
States said she believes socio-economic status, education, and where one works matters, and she questioned the location. States would like to know what other sites were considered.
She said she would have more trust in someone like Andrew helping with the homeless population. States said she doesn’t really know him, but recognizes “he’s there to help the homeless, and he does it.”
Robert McCullough, of North Kentville, said he believes local residents will see their property values impacted by the shelter village, and he questioned whether crime rates would go down. McCullough said maybe he got the wrong impression, but he asked why an American company would be allowed to determine where a shelter community would go.
“I don’t necessarily need answers, but I was sitting there seething and saying, ‘You know what, we’re not as stupid as you think we are,’” McCullough said.
He called for government to organize another meeting with someone on hand who could definitively answer questions about the location and site selection process.
John Calpin, manager of Fidelis House, which is located on the Valley Regional Hospital grounds and neighbours the shelter site, said it provides accommodations for patients, family members and medical personnel.
He said there is minimal or no transportation for shelter residents to get downtown, where they’ll likely want to go during the day.
“I know this hasn’t been addressed tonight, but it’s a worry to the volunteers at Fidelis that we’re going to see a whole bunch of people coming down over the hill and infiltrating our property,” Calpin said.
Yvonne King said she was in the health-care profession in Kentville for more than 40 years. She said her comments were directed at the government.
“With the overwhelming health crisis in Canada and elsewhere, why was (neighbouring) Valley Professional Centre staff not consulted, period?” King asked.
She asked how health professionals would be enticed to come to Kentville, and how would they be retained. King said the situation with the shelter location would “definitely enhance the health crisis.”
AN AT-RISK PERSPECTIVE
Lucas Hatt said he’s been at risk of homelessness his entire life. He said he hasn’t used drugs, and he believes the reason why is that he has felt the love and support of community.
Hatt said if there are people living in Pallet shelters for the sake of their safety and warmth, that’s good, but he thinks more community programming is needed, such as that provided by the Valley Community Learning Association. It would provide structure while increasing their education and employability, giving them incentive to work toward something.
He said if people “don’t have a direction or path of support”, there’s “no rehabilitation or personal development. You get stuck in a cycle.”
A speaker who identified himself as Matthew said he was homeless at one time. He said the government is always throwing money at the problem, opening shelter beds. However, he said there’s no privacy in that.
“Nobody wants to go into something like that. Your stuff gets stolen, and you get beat up. It’s just not effective but you guys keep throwing the money into it.”
He said the Pallet shelters would have to be up to standard for somebody to live in, or they just wouldn’t work. They would be a good opportunity if they are up to code and meet regulations.
“Being homeless is not an ideal thing for anybody,” he said. “I know people are saying they’re close to residential areas, but where do you want them, out in a field, out of town somewhere like they’re animals?”