Men's shelter in Summerside 'absolutely needed' — but some question its location

A public meeting on a 24-hour-a-day shelter in Summerside drew much support from many of those attending in person, but there were some questions around the location and operations.

The meeting was held Tuesday night as the first step in the process to make the six-bed shelter a reality. Council heard a presentation from the P.E.I. Housing Corporation, which owns the building, and the Native Council of P.E.I., which will run the shelter. The presentation was followed by questions from the public and council.

"It's absolutely needed. It's needed 10, 50, 100 times over," said Coun. Justin Doiron.

"The need is a lot more than six beds."

Scott Carnall, the housing development officer with the Native Council, said this first meeting went well and there was "a lot of honest conversation" about the shelter being on Winter Street in downtown Summerside.

"There's a lot of people who do have concerns and I respect the concerns that they have," he said.

"People realize the need and I think they understand our commitment."

There were a few emailed complaints read aloud that were against the shelter. People expressed that it shouldn't be downtown in residential areas, it should be uptown where most of the commercial land is. Others said the shelter will lower property values in the area and be dangerous for families who live nearby.

"Do I want my 15-year-old daughter walking by a men's shelter?" one person wrote. Another wrote "I'm writing this for an objection to the men's shelter being built anywhere near the down town area, if anywhere it should be on Granville near no housing but the grocery stores."

"It's always hard when you plan for a shelter in an existing metro neighbourhood. It's not always going to be a warm welcome," Carnall said. 

But many of those who spoke in person were in support of it or asked questions to clarify such things as staffing, loitering, policing and parking.

One of those who spoke in favour was April Wall. She and her husband, Robert, are among the more than 20 people facing eviction from the nearby Causeway Bay Hotel, which recently served tenants their second eviction notices. She said she'll be homeless come Nov. 13.

Crying as she took the mic she told the room, "We have no idea what we're going to do."

In an interview with CBC News afterward, Wall said she's scared for her family and others who are days away from living on the streets.