The Area of Waterloo is looking the current approval of the acquisition of 84 Frederick St. in Kitchener, a serious step towards its aim of eliminating continual homelessness.
The acquisition was authorized at a gathering earlier this week. It’s the present house of the YW emergency shelter. The plan is for the power to exchange the emergency shelter at 1668 King St E., which is slated to shut in March 2025.
It was a little bit of a “perfect storm” state of affairs.
The YW was trying to promote the property and design a brand new emergency shelter program. The area was on the lookout for alternatives to increase its shelter capability in a everlasting manner and transfer away from revolving non permanent shelters. This deal will enable each teams to maneuver forward with the plans.
The area was particularly excited concerning the constructing already being arrange as a shelter, so little to no retrofit work could be wanted.
Now that the acquisition has been authorized, Regional employees can start engaged on an working plan.
“That operating model will come back to council,” Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Group Companies, informed council.
“It will address specific challenges related to capacity, to security, to neighbourhood impacts, to onsite services that will be provided 24/7. The focus of the work will be to stabilize their (individuals experiencing homelessness) current situation and support them to develop a path to permanent housing,” he added.
In a press launch, Regional Coun. and Chair of Group Well being Companies Committee, Jim Erb stated: “With permanent space, the Region will be in a better position to implement changes needed to end chronic homelessness. As we stabilize the housing support system, we will be able to shift our focus to preventative and supportive measures rather than solely emergency response.”
Chatting with The Mike Farwell Present, Sweeney stated this buy will add a lot wanted stability to this system because the area works in the direction of ending continual homelessness by 2030.
“Over the last four years we’ve (the Region) has opened 17 shelters in this community and closed a number of them. That’s not sustainable. It’s also not suitable for the neighbours that are impacted and it’s certainly not stable for the staff working with this population.” he stated. “Most certainly it’s not stable for the people we’re trying to serve.” he added.
There have been some considerations from coun. concerning the impacts on the neighbours residing close to the Frederick St. location. These can be thought-about within the working mannequin.
The sale of the property can be finalized on July 1.
