London, Ont., gives green light to first 3 homeless hub locations despite concerns from residents

London's city council has approved the locations for the first three hubs that would give round-the-clock services to the city's most vulnerable population, focusing first on women and female-identifying individuals, youth and Indigenous people. 

In a 9-6 vote on Monday, council accepted proposals from Atlohsa Family Healing Services, Youth Opportunities Unlimited and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley. The organizations have been granted a total $15 million to run the hubs over a two-year period. 

The decision followed a four-and-half hour debate, and was almost pushed to an Oct. 31 meeting because of concerns around one location at the Lighthouse Inn at 705 Fanshawe Park Road West in northwest London, operated by CMHA for women. 

"We have residents who are less than 200 metres [from Fanshawe Park] who received no communication, so I'm asking for us to take some time to allow people to receive what's in front of them today," said Coun. Corrine Rahman whose ward the location falls under. 

Rahman said her constituents first learned about the proposed locations on Wednesday afternoon, and didn't have enough time to process that information. 

Monday's strategic planning and policy committee meeting received 201 letters, majority of which expressed worries around the hubs being in close proximity to schools and parks in the suburban neighbourhood and fears that it would increase crime and drug use. 

Residents need answers

Some of those residents were at the meeting, including Julie Bunagan, who said she wants more information on how the hubs would impact the community and businesses in the area. 

"We haven't gotten any information, we learned about this on Wednesday and we want to know what these hubs are going to consist of, what's going to be involved inside, outside, the cleanup, everything," she said. "We don't know anything about it, like nothing."

Bunagan said she hasn't been given any definitive answers about how close the hubs will be to neighbourhoods and what kind of transportation will be provided to those using the hubs. 

The hubs are intended to provide health care and basic necessities to those sleeping on London's streets, with the eventual goal of transitioning them into stable housing. 

The first $10 million in operational costs will be taken from Ontario's Provincial Homelessness Prevention Program. A staff report recommended the city seeks an additional $5 million from the Fund for Change, created by an anonymous $25 million donation.

Concerns rooted in 'misconceptions' says mayor

Rahman's attempts to delay the vote were unsuccessful, but received pushback from some councillors, especially those in the city's east end and downtown, where challenges of homelessness and drug use are at the forefront. 

"This is not just a downtown issue, this is an issue for every single Londoner and we all have a stake," said Coun. David Ferreira whose ward includes downtown. "I need the rest of London to stop turning their back on the city's issues because they're your issues too."

Mayor Josh Morgan, who previously represented Rahman's ward before taking office, was in full support of the locations and said many concerns are rooted in fear and misconceptions. 

"I've seen a lot of comments around this that are simply not true. This is a well defined proposal with a credible organization getting to help people in transitional beds and all they need is our help and I think we can help them as a community," he said.

The property will now need a zoning change to fit with the plan. Once that application is submitted by council, residents have 20 days to appeal the rezoning. CMHA expects respite, or short term beds to open by the end of the year, with transitional rooms anticipated for May.