Nick Amlin is careful to say he respects the work of the Downtown Mission, and he recognizes how difficult its job is, but the Pelissier Street resident has had enough.
Between him and his wife, Amlin figures he's filed up to 40 police reports about litter, screaming, drug dealing, and people trying to break into his vehicle and his home.
He has requested a 24-hour police presence on the block and was told that would be unlikely.
(A screenshot from video submitted by Nick Amlin)
Amlin moved into his home a year ago, and for the first four or five months, he enjoyed the neighbourhood. Things changed when the Downtown Mission moved its day services to the new location at 875 Ouellette Avenue.
"There's been many times, especially on the weeks when it gets worse, where I'm sleeping on my couch, fully clothed, in case I hear someone trying to break into the house again," he said.
Amlin expected some noise, being close to Ouellette Avenue and the bars, and before he closed the deal on his first home, he spent a couple of nights parked on the block in his car. The neighbourhood was quiet, and he believed he was moving into a safe area.
Downtown Mission Executive Director Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin acknowledges the neighbours have dealt with a lot but said her staff is doing all it can. With the help of security staff from the City of Windsor, they respond to calls, emails, and texts from residents and escort clients back to the Mission building.
However, Ponniah-Goulin said the Mission is in a difficult spot too.
After a plan to move services to the former Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library fell through, the Mission moved its day services to the location on Ouellette from its previous home on Victoria Avenue.
"At the time, it was feasible. It was cramped, but it wasn't too difficult," explained Ponniah-Goulin. "It's been challenging over the last three to six months. We've definitely seen an increase of people coming to access the various services."
Demand for the Mission's services has skyrocketed. Ponniah-Goulin estimated maybe 1,000 people a month visited the food bank. More recently, that number has doubled.
At the same time, client needs have become more complex, with many suffering from mental illness.
The Mission has had to replace broken windows and doors on its property.
Ponniah-Goulin said the site is temporary, and eventually, the Mission hopes to move to a more suitable location where it can collaborate with other agencies in the city.
Last week was the deadline for proposals for a new site for the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub. The Mission hopes once that location is settled, it can move nearby.
In the meantime, Amlin will continue to call the police and Mission staff and hope for the best.
"We need safety. The neighbourhood is not safe," he said. "When the police are in the area, it is absolute quiet."