Less than a week into operations and it appears a number of issues concerning 310 Division Street, Transition House along with the hotel program for the homeless.
“Just because we are homeless does not make us less of a person than anyone else,” one person in the program said to Today’s Northumberland.
“The treatment we are receiving here is unethical and unprofessional.”
Today’s Northumberland reached out to Transition House Executive Director, Ike Nwibe on Sunday, November 17, 2024 asking a number of quesitons.
Nwibe responded on Tuesday.
TN – On Thursday the person said that three people were kicked out of the hotel program. It’s believed two were for drug related behaviour and one was for abusive behaviour.
On Friday and over the weekend more were removed from the program.
Nwibe – “Transition House and Northumberland County do not comment on details regarding intake or discharge of individuals from shelter due to confidentiality and privacy requirements.”
TN – A person involved in the program stated that Transition House staff have entered rooms unannounced, including washrooms on a hourly basis, even through the night and have gone through the “clients” property when they are not in their rooms.
Nwibe – “Shelter staff strive for a schedule of hourly room checks. Staff announce their presence by knocking and identifying themselves. They will do this three times, and then notify clients on the third series of knocks that ‘staff is coming in’. Clients are informed of this practice during intake. Staff do not search personal property; they do make observations of the room. These checks are part of shelter practices to ensure client safety, wellness, and the overall security of the facility, as well as the ability to transition rooms to others in need where room occupants have checked out without notifying staff. Where clients have concerns about policies and practices, Transition House has multiple pathways for clients to provide feedback or voice concerns, including a formal appeal process.”
TN – Transition House staff told clients to go off hotel, or County owned property for substance use.
Nwibe – “As part of shelter intake processes, Transition House staff advise clients that substance use is not permitted at any shelter or warming location, whether the shelter at 10 Chapel Street, the warming space at 310 Division Street, or overflow motel locations.”
TN – One person may be applying or training to be a police officer and clients are worried about confidentiality.
Nwibe – “All staff operate under Transition House policies including a Conflict of Interest Policy, a Confidentiality Agreement, and a Vulnerable Sector Check requirement. We do not comment on the personal career development or activities of staff outside of their roles at the shelter.”
TN – Reports are there have been a number of empty rooms available at the hotel program. Given it is approximately $200 a night. Some rooms remain empty, but the County is still charged. (It’s believed two have been empty from Saturday to Tuesday)
Nwibe – “Transition House currently maintains a baseline of 31 overflow motel spaces (an increase of 14 spaces (7 rooms) since the November 1st reduction in capacity at the 10 Chapel Street shelter). Capacity within the shelter system is always very fluid, sometimes changing by the hour. Over the last seven days, we have ranged from 0 to 5 available spaces within the shelter system.”
TN – Today’s Northumberland asked Nwibe if, on Friday, November 15, 2024 Transition House staff were pulled from the hotel program?
Nwibe confirmed there was no staff over the weekend and they relied on hourly spot checks by mobile security.
Nwibe – “Transition House paused 24/7 onsite staff presence for the motel program this past weekend, relying on approximately hourly spot checks of the property by mobile security during this period. As of Monday, 24/7 onsite presence resumed, staffed by Northumberland County’s security provider. We look forward to the full opening of shelter services at 310 Division Street, where services will be consolidated to a single location, enabling the most effective service delivery.”
TN – With only one staff member from TH/County working do you think there is enough accountability?
Nwibe – “A typical ratio for shelters is 20 clients to 1 staff member. Transition House and Northumberland County have implemented a staffing model of 10 clients to 1 staff member in order to enhance service quality.”
The person in the program stated, “we were better off on the street.”
“We don’t have any human rights. We are garbage to be tossed away.”
With drug use in the room, the general public needs to understand that addicts can’t quit, “cold turkey.”
“It’s physically impossible and very dangerous.”
With no medical staff or support on site it’s next to impossible to stop using drugs.
“The hotel program isn’t rehab. People could die abstaining from drugs and alcohol.”
People coming into the hotel program are coming from a “dangerous environment” that anyone that hasn’t been through it can’t understand.
“The Transition House staff knew this going in.”
But the person admits there should be absolutely no abuse (physical or verbal) from either clients or staff, but adds, “prisoners have more rights.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
