A proposal to place homeless shelter beds in a residential neighbourhood is going to the public.
Squamish Helping Hands Society wants to relocate the sleeping portion of its programming from its current downtown shelter to a house on Wilson Crescent. The purpose-built residence was formerly known as Iris Place, a Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)-run supportive residential facility for people with mental health challenges or facing addiction.
The residence closed in 2010, leaving the building vacant, municipal planner Sarah McJannet said at Tuesday’s (May 20) District of Squamish council meeting.
The move would free up the converted fire house on Third Avenue for food and counselling initiatives, she noted.
But before Helping Hands can start packing, the organization needs to secure rezoning to allow an emergency shelter on Wilson Crescent.
Helping Hands’ downtown shelter is significantly constrained for space, McJannet said. People use sleeping mats on the concrete floor and there are no separate facilities for men and women.
“We know that very few shelters in the province still use mats on the floor,” McJannet said.
Last fall, Helping Hands started operating the assisted living portion of the program at the Wilson Crescent building. Transitional housing is a form of time-limited and supported housing for 30 days to 24 months. It’s all a part of a continuum of housing, McJannet said.
The building has 10 rooms and a manager’s sleeping quarters, kitchen, dining room, a common area and office space. Helping Hands is proposing to have four transitional beds, while reserving the remaining beds for its emergency shelter use. The total occupancy of the house would not exceed 15 clients per night.
On average, Helping Hands currently serves 10 to 11 shelter clients per night, McJannet said.
The Wilson Crescent shelter will be open from 7 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. with no daytime drop-ins or group meals permitted at the facility.
“There is staff supervision on site at all time,” she added.
The district has received expressions of concern from neighbours, McJannet noted. Most revolve around a fear for safety and increased drug use in the area, she said.
District staff have spoken with officials from the Sea to Sky School District regarding the proximity of the house to Howe Sound Secondary School. They didn’t raise concerns, McJannet said.
Council passed first and second reading. The first two readings don’t rubber stamp the project with council’s approval, Coun. Doug Race said, but do move it forward to a public hearing.
A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, at 6 p.m. at municipal hall, 37955 Second Ave. You can watch the meeting live online at www.squamish.ca/yourgovernment/council-meetings-and-decisions.
