The closure of the homeless hub in Ajax has been blamed by an Oshawa city and regional councillor for the exacerbated problems in downtown Oshawa.
He also suggested repurposing of problem buildings and moving out two institutions in downtown Oshawa which he said are magnets for the homeless.
“The major reason for the increase in homeless in that area (with expanding issues elsewhere) is that the homeless hub in Ajax closed down,” says Rick Kerr, Oshawa Ward 4 City and Regional Councillor.
“Although the Region of Durham…receives millions of dollars from both the federal and provincial governments and is responsible for homelessness assured the city that they would not be an impact, this resulted in well over 100 individuals coming to Oshawa (the estimate is higher than this),” the councillor alleged.
More Tickets Issued
He said some from the Ajax hub went to Pickering.
“There have been pictures of homeless individuals and their belongings along the curb at Memorial Park and up against the south wall of the Masonic Temple which faces onto Memorial Park. It has meant more people at the Back Door Mission and around Saint George’s Church (Center Street at Debwevin Milikan formally Bagot Street). The Masonic Temple and Saint George’s have also received notices – but not financial ticketing, which is a concern of mine,” the councillor pointed out.
He said he has also spoken with senior staff at the Canadian Automotive Museum (CAM) which has been fined $1,500, to address the tickets appropriately.
Having knocked on the door of Durham police and Region of Durham, the outgoing mayor of Oshawa Dan Carter, has now turned to downtown businesses (see below) to ensure security in and around their premises with threats of fines.
Three-Pronged Solution
The councillor presented a three-point plan to reduce homelessness in downtown Oshawa and ensure improved safety and security.
1. The Back Door Mission is virtually a magnet for homeless from other municipalities (as well as Oshawa). It needs to be either moved out of our downtown or closed down allowing any in such need to visit the 70,000 SF HART hub in Whitby (which recently received $70 million from the federal government to complete its facilities). Discussions are ongoing. The problem in the past has been that the Back Door Mission is a private organization not responsible nor under the purview of the City of Oshawa; however, it does receive funding from the Region of Durham and the Province of Ontario. A different path is needed to be found. I believe we are now on such a path, Kerr said.
2. Cornerstone needs to be moved out of the downtown. This is an organization partially funded by the federal government for individuals released from prison. While not all individuals in Cornerstone are former inmates ( some are local individuals and from elsewhere needing temporary accommodation), the potential for other issues is there…Cornerstone is at capacity and is looking to expand. I want to examine finding an old hotel (much like the Comfort Inn in Pickering the federal government purchased through Durham Region for setting up refugee settlement facility). This solution may be longer in duration to arrive at, but Kerr said he has already met with the federal MP Rhonda Kirkland, who has committed to speaking with the Minister of Public Safety to open discussion on this potential solution. Cornerstone does not need to be in the downtown. In fact, it needs to be elsewhere in an appropriate location to both their needs and the city’s – and it need not be in Oshawa, Kerr said.
3. Buildings Repurposing: There are buildings which, if purchased and demolished, would remove a large criminal element from near the downtown. The Quebec Street apartments used to be such an area, but the city worked with the developer to facilitate the purchase and the processes to complete the renovation of those buildings. The area is no longer a problem for crime and drugs.
The councillor said he believed that if the above situations are brought about – even just for points 2 or 3 – Oshawa would see a massive shift in a downtown for the better.