By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
In spite of the uniformed police officer near her at Wednesday’s Northumberland County council Social Services Committee meeting, Associate Director of Housing and Homelessness Director Rebecca Carman gave her report on Encampment Response and Progress on 310 Division St., Cobourg, in peace.
Police had been called in as a response to rowdiness that accompanied the presenter who preceded Carman and his presentation on the effects that the encampment on the former Brookside Youth Centre had caused in the community.
Carman’s report detailed plans that are being made in advance of what is believed to be the Nov. 13 closing date for the sale of that property.
The encampment began Sept. 30 last year and its numbers, ever fluctuating, are difficult to ascertain given that this property does not belong to the county. Nevertheless, Carman said, the county’s outreach staff and community volunteers are there in a supportive capacity at least several times a week.
Since July 1, efforts by county-funded outreach support have resulted in getting 16 encampment members out – seven into housing, seven into shelter and two into treatment.
On Sept. 20, a multi-disciplinary outreach team entered the grounds and counted 36 individuals frequenting the property and 21 confirmed as sleeping there. A number of the tents are not occupied, but used for storage. Of the people currently at Brookside, 75% have lived in Cobourg at least four years, and more than half of them are life-long Cobourg residents.
They talked to about 18 residents, Carman said, and encountered universal support and enthusiasm for the opening of the proposed homeless shelter at 310 Division St., which she attributes to the private space it offers and its ability to keep people with their partners and their pets.
Meanwhile, they work with the people at the Brookside site (as well as at other locations where homeless individuals congregate) to find permanent and temporary housing solutions as well as the wrap-around services and even little services – such as transportation or storage of belongings – that can make a difference.
At 310 Division St., construction is complete on the ground floor. Phase 2 is the upper floors where the beds are located. They have resubmitted a permit for this work to the Town of Cobourg.
The Community Liaison Committee that will serve as the shelter is opened has held an initial training session. Final selections for the committee will be made, with a meeting planned by month’s end.
Staff and security arrangements are in place, as is the service and licensing agreement with Transition House to operate the facility.
They have applied for the facility’s license, under Cobourg’s Emergency Care Establishment Bylaw (and paid the applicable fees), and hope it can be considered expeditiously.
The first floor will have such amenities as a 24/7 drop-in centre and warming room of the type run in recent winters by St. Peter’s Anglican Church. There will be shower and laundry facilities, as well as a couple other significant improvements over current smaller shelter facilities at nearby Transition House.
These include an office that will allow for private consultations between staff and community members, and a private treatment room that can be used by paramedics required at the site. At Transition House, Carman pointed out, paramedics called to the site have to remove the patient and give treatment in the ambulance.
Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland – not a committee member but allowed to ask questions – asked several times about the warming room, repeatedly questioning whether encampment members would be allowed to sleep on the first floor. Assured each time that they were not, he finally pointed out that the facilities at Transition House (with far fewer beds) would therefore be overwhelmed by those wishing to sleep out of the cold.
Cleveland also reminded counsellors that, to date, two encampment members have died.
His concern is that members of the community are starting to wonder if Transition House will continue to be open after 310 Division St. also opens. Carman assured him that, once Phase 2 of 310 Division is open and operating, the work at Transition House will wind down.
Cleveland sought assurances that, at that time, no other social services will be offered out of Transition House.
Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Moore could offer no assurances, as Transition House is owned by an independent organization.
“We don’t have any agreements to operate it, but cannot direct how they use it,” Moore said.
Cramahe Mayor Mandy Martin (also not a committee member) pointed out that, when county council considered the purchase of 310 Division St. last year, “Councillor Cleveland was very much urging that we proceed with this, so I am not quite understanding the hesitancy now.
“Let’s just be factual about what we are doing here. We are doing this to address the needs of people who are living rough and in need. This isn’t about politics, it’s about meeting social needs.”
