Using empty school to alleviate encampment issues not feasible, says Hamilton chair
Global News
The HWDSB says water and structural issues are the reason Sir John McDonald High School can't be used as a temporary shelter for those experiencing homelessness in Hamilton.
The chair of Hamilton’s public school board says an empty school in the core isn’t a site those experiencing homelessness in the city could “walk in and use” due to damage making it unsafe.
Dawn Danko says ideas have been pitched to the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) by numerous groups and residents over the years suggesting how an empty John A MacDonald Secondary on York Boulevard could factor in alleviating the city’s homelessness problem.
“It would actually be quite a bit of remediation that would have to happen,” Danko explained.
“When we discussed that with the city and with other partners in the past, the idea of investing a significant amount of money to remediate a site for temporary use really wasn’t feasible.”
The board has pursued, four times with the Ministry of Education, creation of a community hub providing space for city partners like Hamilton Health Sciences, the Hamilton Community Foundation, Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes Inc. and YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford.
However, it’s failed to be approved each time.
“Unfortunately, the ministry at the time did not approve that proposal,” Danko recalls.
“Then we had a change in government and we haven’t had approval since, despite repeated requests to have that project approved. So that’s part of the reason the site’s been sitting empty.”
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