This month, I would like to comment on an issue which is getting a lot of attention, that of homelessness. For this column, I will focus primarily on City initiatives. There are many community organizations, like those named later in this column, who are doing a lot of work to combat homelessness. This is not meant to detract from or take credit for their actions.
I want to start off by saying that homelessness is nothing new to Cornwall. It was previously more or less invisible as many of the people who were homeless were still able to find places to stay with either family or friends. This is no longer the case, and we are now seeing it more visibly for the first time in our community. We also have a number of people who are sleeping in their vehicles.
A recent example relates to the case of an individual who twice setup a tent in front of City Hall. While privacy is an issue, and I cannot provide much information, I can say that the individual was assisted in finding accommodation twice, with the second time being permanent in our new building. The City does currently have programs in place to help with temporary accommodation. We are looking at options that will accommodate longer stays.
Yes, I do agree that there is an issue, and we need to take steps to address it. This is something that I campaigned on. However, the fixes unfortunately do not happen overnight. It takes time, collaboration, and support. Our Human Services Department, along with myself, have been meeting with various stakeholders to find solutions. The City is ready to provide funding and support to viable solutions once they are ready to go. I can provide some examples.
The Last Resort Program is available from the United Way and is currently primarily funded by The City of Cornwall. This program provides funding to cover first and last months rent for eligible individuals. The United Way has indicated that it will look to the City for additional funding when the current funds run out. I can say that I personally support this, and I believe that many of my Council colleagues do as well.
We continue to plan and build more affordable housing projects. With the Ninth and McConnell Project completed, we can now shift our focus to the Pitt Street North Project. We are also continuing to partner with developers to include affordable housing units. We have done so successfully so far at Pitt and Second, which is nearing completion, and at Montreal and Belmont, which should see construction starting soon.
It is worth noting that our Human Services Department is a shared service between the City and the United Counties of SDG. So, while I am commenting specifically on the City’s efforts today, some of these efforts will be taking place in the surrounding area as well, like the addition of affordable housing in Morrisburg. The efforts including the securing of available land and surplus buildings for future use.
Access to basic needs, for things as simple as drinking water, can be difficult to obtain. The City recently provided water fountains with refilling stations to both Centre 105 and the Agapè Centre and paid for their installation. The City also recently purchased a former school, with the intention of renovating it to provide services similar to House of Lazarus’ Community Hub in Morrisburg. In addition, there is the possibility of additional transitional spaces for those who need temporary accommodation. More details will follow soon.
I have had multiple discussions and meetings with representatives from the United Way, Centre 105, the Agapè Centre, and other organizations to discuss needs and possible next steps. I have also had limited discussions with a few individuals who are homeless to get an idea for their actual, most pressing needs. While we explore a few of these options, I will be looking to further these discussions with other local governments to work together and pool our resources.
As the United Way of SDG has publicly stated, a shelter alone is not THE solution. We need a more robust plan. The idea is to not find a bed and forget about these people, but to be able to provide services in order to help them get back on their feet. This ranges from healthcare, including mental health, to job and skills training. We are inching our way closer to this type of solution, and our new school building will be a big step forward in this regard. There is always more to do.
In the interim, if you, or someone you know, needs immediate assistance, please contact our Housing Services department at 613-933-6282 x 3315 or housingprograms@cornwall.ca.
