The public will get a chance to hear more next week about a new homeless shelter proposed for the corner of Ebbtide Street and Trail Avenue in Sechelt. The Oct. 3 meeting is a follow-up to an Aug. 16 open house, and will also be an opportunity for people to put questions to representatives of the agencies involved in the project.
The current agreement between BC Housing and St. Hilda’s Church expires Nov. 1 and BC Housing said several locations were considered for a new, temporary shelter. But the Ebbtide and Trail one is the best, the ministry said, because it’s close to transit, amenities and community services and will allow for a facility that could include designated areas for couples or for women who are fleeing violence.
A summary report on the public comments received so far says of the 126 people who either filled out a form at the Aug. 16 open house or sent an email afterwards, 78 (or 62 per cent) were opposed to the location and 41 (or 33 per cent) supported it. Seven were undecided. Most of the responses came from residents of Sechelt.
People opposed to the location have been telling BC Housing their biggest concerns are the safety of children and seniors living in the neighbourhood, worries about an increase in property crime and vandalism, and decreased property values.
Favourable responses pointed to the need to address the housing and homelessness situation on the Sunshine Coast as soon as possible and to RainCity Housing’s good track record since taking over management of the current shelter.
There were also complaints following the Aug. 16 open house about the process itself, with several responses coming from people who said they felt they were presented with a “done deal” and their voices weren’t being heard, and quite a few responses along the lines of “agree with need for shelter, just not in this location.”
Craig Crawford of BC Housing said it’s not unusual to hear that sort of response when a new shelter location is first proposed. “We certainly heard the concerns expressed from the community. This second meeting will be an opportunity to respond to those concerns,” he said.
BC Housing has said it plans to file a formal request with the district for a three-year lease on the lot and apply for a temporary use permit shortly after next week’s meeting. Crawford said at that point it becomes a municipal process, and any further opportunities for public input would be up to Sechelt to arrange.
Crawford said once the application is filed, the timeline is also in Sechelt’s hands. He could not say what BC Housing’s plan would be if a new shelter can’t be ready by Nov. 1. “We would need to consider the options at that point,” he said.
The Oct. 3 meeting is at the SIB Hall on Xenichen Avenue and starts at 5:30 p.m.
