Update on Erb's Road Hybrid Shelter - October 24, 2024

We would like to provide an update about the Erb’s Road Hybrid Shelter.

Thank you to all who attended and provided feedback at the Community Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. In response to the concerns raised, the following changes will be implemented.

Good Neighbour Policy

Regional staff and The Working Centre are finalizing a Good Neighbour Policy. This policy will more clearly outline the expectations of shelter participants as community members, explain the actions that will violate this policy (e.g. trespassing, theft from a neighbouring property, etc.) and the resulting consequences.

Staffing and Neighbourhood Calls

We are working with The Working Centre to ensure that calls and concerns about people experiencing homelessness in the neighbourhood are responded to quickly by The Working Centre staff. Our goal is to see that individuals in need of support are connected to available emergency shelter sites.

Mental Health and Substance Use

We are looking at a revision to the intake process to reduce the number of individuals who have higher complexities and needs (e.g., mental health and substance use challenges).

Security

We will increase the presence of security at the site and better communicate our expectations for their role in managing the site. Security staff are intended to provide a safe environment for the residents and staff that are on site at all times and will communicate with WRPS and other emergency services as required.

Community Engagement

There will be two regular avenues established for ongoing community engagement.

First, the current Community Advisory Committee, with representatives from the neighbourhood local businesses, community partners, WRPS and the Region will meet on a monthly basis.

Second, the Region will organize a quarterly community meeting with neighbours and key partners in attendance. Broader notification of the dates and times of these meetings will occur when they have been scheduled.

Communication

We will improve communication with monthly updates posted on the Engage WR page and emailed to the subscriber list, following the monthly community advisory committee meetings.

Based on the feedback and changes above, some of these updates are already happening. Some changes will occur as soon as possible.

We will continue to keep you updated. We are committed to finding ways to ensure this is a community where everyone has access to shelter and feels safe in their neighbourhood.