Taxi Fare to London Covered for Homeless Man

A man from Huron County, who often stays in shelters to avoid sleeping outside, says that his $241.42 taxi fare to London, Ont., was covered by the Huron Perth Health Care Alliance in order to make space for others in a shelter where he had been staying in Clinton.

The man explained that he was sent to London with the assurance there would be available shelter for him, which turned out not to be true when he arrived.

Webster shared his experience with , mentioning that people looking for shelter and other services in smaller towns are frequently directed to London under the assumption that the services are better there.

“I think London is really getting ripped off on this,” said Stephen Webster, who considers Huron County home but doesn’t have a stable place to live. “The cab driver said they do these trips all the time.”

At 64 years old, Webster faces several health challenges. He usually resides near Blyth, about 100 kilometers north of London, and takes on odd jobs. When those jobs don’t provide a place to stay, Webster depends on a combination of shelters and friends’ generosity.

Sometimes he has even paid $20 just to rent a couch for the night. He has slept in vehicles and endured long winter nights inside bank machine vestibules.

“I bounce around a lot,” he said.

His Journey to London

The chain of events leading up to his cab ride began on January 13 when he sought treatment at Clinton Public Hospital due to dangerously low blood pressure and trench foot-a serious condition often affecting those who sleep outdoors.

Stephen Webster received treatment at Clinton Public Hospital and stayed in a nearby shelter before being sent to London by cab. (Sofia Rodriguez/CBC)

His hospital visit lasted only a few hours but with nighttime temperatures hitting -15 C and no accommodation available, Webster was provided a bed at an emergency temporary shelter run by Huron Perth Health Care Alliance across from the hospital.

He was informed that his stay at Transition House-a short-term crisis housing option-would be limited to just a few days.

‘London Has Resources’

By January 20, after spending seven days at the shelter, staff informed him that his bed would need to be vacated for another client and there were no available options left in Huron County. That’s when they offered him a cab ride to London as their only assistance.

<p“ They told me that they send a lot of people to London because London has the shelters."

Webster mentioned that he and another man also needing housing agreed to take the taxi ride covering about 100 kilometers from Clinton to Victoria Hospital in London even though neither required medical attention.

<pp has confirmed with a local taxi company that this transfer took place and that Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance covered the $241.42 fare associated with it.</ppThe Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope was full the night Stephen Webster arrived by cab in London on Jan. 20. (Rebecca Zandbergen/)<pp Webstertold him staff claimed there would be an available bed waiting for him at Salvation Army's Centre of Hope located on Wellington Street in London; however upon arrival, he discovered there were no beds free at all.

When contacted regarding comments by , representatives from Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance didn’t confirm they funded the cab trip due t o privacy issues; however they stated their outpatient mental health teams never relocate individuals out of their community “unless it is their choice.”

The statement added they’re committedto providing care locally whenever possible.

“We have extended individual stays at Transition House t o ensure they can find asafe place i nthe community they wantto bein,”the statement noted.”Our dedicatedstaffmake every effortt osupportindividualswholeavingourspacestoensuretheyhaveasafeplacetogoto.”

Eventually Webster managedtofind lodgingatthenighttimeemergency wintershelteroperatedbythe Cityof Londonatthe Boyle Memorial Community Centre. Itonlyopenswhen temperaturesdropbelow-15Cwithawindchillof-20C.

We can’t take on the service needs of people from other municipalities. We have scant resources as it is- Shawn Lewis, London’s deputy mayor

Ifoundmyselfspending thenextnightatthe Ark Aid Street Missionon Dundas Streetwhichwas veryfull. Fortherestofthatweek Webstersoughtoutavailable shelters throughout southwestern Ontario. After hitch-hikingto Stratfordon Thursdayandfindingnobody couldhelpthere, heseemedluckytobefoundspacein Cambridge.

This Can’t Go On Says Deputy Mayor

< pp Somecityhallpoliticianshave arguedthat Londonisnothavingcapacitytomeettheneedsofpeoplefromother communities.”Plainandsimplewedon’t havetheresourcestoliftupthosewhoarealreadyhere,”said Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis.”Wecantakeontheserviceneedsofpeoplefromother municipalities. Wehavescantresourcesasit is. Thismuststopandthere mustbe consequencesfromtheprovincialgovernmentforsituationslikethis.”reached outto Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompsonforcommentsbutdidnotgetareplyby Monday January26.

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