How City Hall plans to use remote golf courses as winter homeless shelters
CTV
With cold weather approaching, City Hall has finally unveiled its new plan to address unsheltered homelessness this winter.
With cold weather approaching, City Hall has finally unveiled its new plan to address unsheltered homelessness this winter.
Similar to last winter, construction trailers will be converted into heated living quarters, but the locations will be much more remote, requiring on-site resources and transportation options for residents.
“We know that where we were located last year had many benefits, but it also had many detractors,” admits Kevin Dickins, deputy city manager of Social and Health Development at City Hall.
Currently, about 120 people are living ‘unsheltered’ in tents or makeshift shelters in London.
The three-pronged strategy will provide 100 to 105 overnight spaces between December and March:
Two temporary winter shelters housing 30-35 people each will be located at municipal golf courses.
Atlohsa Family Healing Services will operate the shelter for Indigenous people in trailers at the former River Road Golf Course near Veteran’s Memorial Parkway.