Neighbourhood concerns are again emerging over criminal activity around the downtown Helping Hands homeless drop-in centre in the wake of a BC Housing initiative to expand the facility into a four-storey shelter for the "hard-to-house" population.
Michael Bigler, who, since 1991, has owned the house now directly adjacent to the centre, says he's drawing up a petition to stop the expansion because he believes it's only going to worsen the criminal activities, including drug dealing and theft, that he says he sees on a regular basis.
"I've caught them in my carport before. I've caught them stealing stuff out of the back of my truck. It's because they're right there. It's just gotten way more prevalent."
Bigler says since the arrival of the centre, his dream location is ruined.
"With the 360 degree views of the estuary, all this time I've thought downtown's the place to be, it's so cool. Now I don't think it's cool anymore."
Bigler's statements echo similar concerns that came up last July with residents of the Artisan building, which overlooks the centre and a nearby alleyway. District of Squamish staff were also issued a warning memo to be careful going into the municipal parking lot.
But those directly involved with the centre repeated assertions made in July that they are not aware of criminal activity near the centre, nor have they had complaints.
"We've heard the opposite - that crime is down," said Helping Hands Society chair Dennis Bartlett. "But we can only get that feedback from the RCMP and neighbours that we've spoken to. But unless neighbours speak to us directly about their concerns, it's very difficult for us to surmise what's happening."
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kevin Bracewell visits the centre twice a week, and said he's not aware of illegal activity adjacent to the centre, and often times actions of those using the centre can be misinterpreted.
"Anytime people see two - for want of a better word - disheveled characters together, there's an immediate jumping to the conclusion that they're doing drugs," he said. "You've got to remember as well that anytime there is a police presence or a staff presence, that sort of activity doesn't take place."
Bracewell encouraged locals to call police if illegal activity is spotted, and RCMP response will take place along with proactive work already taking place in co-operation the Helping Hands Society.
BC Housing's initiative is part of on-going efforts to establish social housing, said spokesperson Sam Rainboth, and all projects place safety and security of the site and the surrounding neighbourhood as "a top priority."
The proposal is expected to return to the District of Squamish council in the next few months, and Coun. Corinne Lonsdale, one of its strongest advocates and a volunteer at the centre, said the municipality must work quickly to take advantage of project funding.
Lonsdale said she hopes the expansion would help ease the problems associated with homeless and hard-to-house people, adding Sea to Sky Community Services outreach workers would have offices on site to further help their re-integration into mainstream life.
"The community needs to accommodate it, and if there's problems outside that facility, we need to address them."
