Property owner hopes to make a 'positive' difference with White Oaks homeless hub plan

The owner of a building that may become one of London's homeless hubs says he has been moved by the need for more services for marginalized Londoners and wants to help however he can. 

Ross Rains is the owner of Olde School Professional Properties Inc., which has applied to rezone the vacant former radio station at 743 Wellington Road, so it can eventually be turned into one of several homeless hubs the city wants to operate. He is also the owner of The Focal Point Group, a commercial landlord in London and St. Thomas.  

"It struck me that if the homeless situation was indeed an emergency, that we should all be pitching in with whatever we have to create solutions," Rains told CBC News in an email.

"As property owners for years we have experienced the dilemma of homelessness and addiction which too often has involved disruption to our business, clean-ups and even property damage and theft. It has been very costly for us." 

"We should have a dozen of these sites in place or in process across London by now, which I believe would result in a dramatic decrease in incidents at the street level of neighbourhoods, and relieve all of our emergency services such as hospital emergency rooms, ambulance and police," Rains wrote. 

The building is on a bus route, close to stores and health care providers, and on a future rapid transit line. 

"We also understand neighbours who may have fears for safety and property value. At the same time, the existing
facility at 743 Wellington Road is a suitable facility, which with 24/7 professional care-givers, could provide wrap around solutions for our city's most vulnerable in a quiet, orderly campus-like space, providing hope for their futures," Rains wrote. 

More hubs needed, owner says

There are two homeless hubs open so far in the city, one run by Youth Opportunities Unlimited catering to young people, the other run by Atlohsa for Indigenous people. Both are located nearby the proposed hub, at the Victoria Hospital campus and at Parkwood. 

Hubs are open 24/7 and help the highest acuity individuals move indoors, stabilize, access supports and eventually move to more permanent housing. 

Officials had hoped to open five by the end of 2023, but only two materialized. A third, proposed at a motel in northwest London, fell through after concerns from neighbours and already-vulnerable people living in the motel spoke against the plan. 

"Reading the Hub strategy, which is on the City website, had shown me that the City was open to an 'all city' response that could include business people. Lives are being lost and so many are losing hope," Rains wrote. 

Councillor has concerns

Rains purchased the building, across the street from the Tourism London office and Westminster Ponds, in December.

The current zoning allows for medical and dental offices to be operate in the building. Rains wants to add emergency care establishments and clinics as one of the allowed uses. The change will be debated at a May 22 planning and environment committee meeting. Those who want to submit comments about the proposal have to do so by April 19. 

Ward 12 Coun. Elizabeth Peloza, who represents the area, has been telling constituencies to express their concerns at that meeting. She knew the property owner was applying for rezoning, but not that someone wanted to use the space for a potential homeless hub.  

"There are a few concerns. You have the potential rezoning of the property and a future hub. It's two things happening in conjunction. The planning application requires a public participation meeting. The hub does not," Peloza said. 

"Currently, there's no operator, there's no funding allocated for the site, city staff haven't looked at the site. We're going to be seeing a large turnout during the planning meeting because that's where residents are going to want to raise concerns." 

Constituencies are worried that there is a long-term care home close by, it's across the street from the city's welcome centre, and near other hubs located at Victoria and Parkwood hospitals," Peloza said. "If the community doesn't speak up now, they might not have another opportunity." 

Rains said he's hoping a "competent operator agency" will come forward to use the site as a hub. "The site meets the requirements for such uses being applied for but ultimately the city must decide if this site is appropriate to accommodate an emergency care facility," Rains said. He is also marketing the property for office use, pending the zoning outcome. 

"Regardless of the outcome of the rezoning process, our hope is to make a positive difference in each city ward where we operate," he added.