London's homeless population will be able to escape the cold and snow this winter through new overnight drop-in spaces downtown and two pop-up shelters on city-run golf courses.
The proposed $1.9 million winter plan for homeless people in the city goes to the Community and Protective Services Committee next week. Compiled by city staff based on feedback from local agencies that work with those living on the streets, the new approach builds on measures put in place last winter and will be funded entirely with cash from the provincial and federal governments.
"We have learned a lot of lessons since last year's response... Direct feedback from those in the program sparked new ideas," said Kevin Dickins, London's deputy city manager of social and health development.
Different from last winter's program are the addition of overnight drop-in spaces and the removal of pop-up shelters from the core.
"People are trying to be remote now. They are trying to find isolated locations to be out of the watchful eye of the public," said Dickins. "It's not all that inviting to be homeless on main street London. There is a group that has indicated that they want spaces that are a little more discreet and private than last year."
In the winter of 2020, the city established temporary shelters using construction style trailers on York and Elizabeth streets. This led to complaints from neighbours and an uneasy feeling among the homeless living in the trailers. As a solution to that problem, the city will make use of its "under-used assets" by putting the temporary shelters on the River Road and Fanshawe golf courses.
The trailers at River Road Golf Course in the city's southeast-end will be for Indigenous people. Services there will be run by Atlhosa Family Healing Services. Impact London will run the shelter at Fanshawe Golf Course. Both shelters are intended for long-term stays of up to four months. In addition to shelter, food will be provided and people living there will be connected with community supports aimed at securing permanent housing. Each of the two sites are expected to house between 30 to 35 people. Shuttle services will be provided for the individuals living there.
The other two prongs to the proposed winter plan for the city's homeless include the following:
A drop-in space run by the Ark Aid Mission will be established at a soon-to-be announced location. It will be open day and night and will allow a safe place for people to get out of the elements, rest, shower, and have something to eat and drink. People can stay at this location for up to eight hours at a time. It will accommodate 48 people during the day and 40 people overnight. The Canadian Mental Health Association Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services will host a stabilization space at 371 Hamilton Road. It will offer between five to ten beds for people experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis. Police and outreach workers have to refer individuals to this space. They can then stay at this location for up to 72 hours.
If given the nod by council, all four spaces being proposed by city staff could be up and running by December 1 and would wind down in March. In total, the winter response program would provide between 100 to 105 overnight spaces. That is in addition to hotel rooms currently being used to house some members of the city's homeless population.
The city estimates there are currently 120 people experiencing homelessness in London.
