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Signs of support for shelter

Sechelt

Signs posted against the opening of a new homeless shelter on Ebbtide Street and Trail Avenue were removed by the District of Sechelt last week.

The two signs asking if people would be comfortable in the area with a homeless shelter nearby, and asking for feedback to be sent to secheltvillagevoice@gmail.com, were erected on District of Sechelt property near the location of the proposed shelter, shortly after a public meeting on the proposal was held.

“The signs were taken down as they were on public land and outside of the permitted scope of our sign bylaw. Staff initiated that action on their own and, from what I understand, were concerned about the tone of public discussion on this issue,” Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne said.

“The signs have not been retrieved so we do not yet know who secheltvillagevoice@gmail.com is.”

He said the district received a mixed response to the signs, “although by far the majority were moved to show support for the shelter.”

Much of the public response came in via email and online, so Milne said it’s hard to gauge if the responses were primarily Sechelt-based.

“Only a few indicated their residency in Sechelt. Most resided somewhere in that other place – the worldwide web,” Milne said.

Graham Moore, an administrator for the Facebook page Everything Sechelt, said he ran an informal poll to gauge the support of a homeless shelter at the proposed location and nearly 70 per cent of the 72 people who took the survey were in support.

Rev. Clarence Li also sent Coast Reporter and council a letter outlining his support for the proposed shelter.

He said he supports the move because it’s on a bus route and within walking distance of downtown, is close to social services, has only one immediate residential neighbour (as its proposed location is next to the sewage treatment plant) and it will be managed by RainCity, which has proved itself as a competent service provider.

“From my experience at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church, the home for the Sunshine Coast Emer-gency Homelessness Shelter since 2012, the most important question is not so much about the location of the shelter but how the shelter is being managed. St. Hilda’s has been very impressed by RainCity Housing and Support Society in the way they have managed the shelter for the last two years,” Li wrote.

“In our experience, they have been on top of any issues the church identified from time to time. Their staff worked with our neighbours who voiced concerns and invited the clients to address them collectively and be part of the solution. I am confident that the new shelter in its new proposed location will be well managed by RainCity, not to mention that a 24/7 model will enhance the operation with more professional staff on site.”

The newly proposed homeless shelter would replace the one currently running at St. Hilda’s, as it’s over capacity and available only in the evenings.

The new shelter would accommodate 40 people with beds instead of mats on the floor, which are used now, and it would also provide shower and laundry facilities and meals for those who access the shelter, 24 hours a day.

BC Housing and RainCity are pitching the new shelter plan on land owned by the district at Ebbtide Street and Trail Avenue. They’re seeking a three-year lease to erect a modular-style shelter by this winter, with the option to seek a renewal of the lease after three years.

The plan was met with much anger and fear by several neighbours who came to an informal meeting held Aug. 16 by BC Housing and RainCity; however, the plan has yet to come to council for a formal discussion and ultimate decision.

Milne said he doesn’t know when the plan will come to council.