Homeless shelter in Happy Valley-Goose Bay likely won't open this winter
CBC News | Posted: February 5, 2016 9:30 AM | Last Updated: February 5, 2016
NL Housing: shelter is 'still a couple of months away'
The opening of an emergency homeless shelter in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will most likely not happen before the winter is over, due to delays with safety requirements in its prospective building.
"It's taking a little bit longer than we had hoped," Morley Linstead, director of policy and research with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, told Labrador Morning.
When the two-year, $800,000 Out of the Cold pilot project was unveiled in November, NLHC officials hoped it would be open by the beginning of 2016.
Linstead could not give a definitive opening date for the eight-bed shelter, beyond saying it's "still a couple of months away."
Sprinkler setbacks
Linstead said safety liabilities with the shelter's prospective building are the big issue, the most prominent of which is the lack of a sprinkler system at the site.
"The major reason right now is insuring the structure that we're going to use meets fire and life safety standards," said Linstead.
"When it comes to having people stay in a place overnight, there's a certain level of standard that's required to make sure it's safe."
Linstead said the building's landlord is in the midst of getting permits to install a sprinkler system, which could take three to four weeks, and the NLHC has not yet signed a lease.
No urgent need
Linstead said the silver lining to the shelter setback is an apparent drop in the need for emergency housing in the community.
"We're not aware of anyone who's sleeping on the street right now," said Linstead.
"The pressure's not quite what it once was. Because with a little bit of a slowdown at Muskrat Falls over the winter, some of the other accommodations that we can access for housing homeless individuals have opened up again."
Linstead said anyone in need of emergency shelter can contact the Happy Valley-Goose Bay office of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, or the local Salvation Army.