January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
$28m plan to shelter island’s homeless
$28m plan to shelter island’s homeless
The news follows heavy pre-Christmas criticism that the Government isn’t doing enough to help the homeless but Health Minister Patrice Minors says that’s not true and that the new plan speaks for itself.
Building a new physical structure is just one element. The other is finding the best programmes for clients. Right now the Salvation Army is in charge of that, but the Government says it’s lacking and wants to put it out to tender.
Mrs. Minors said: “We want the emergency housing complex to be one that people are transitioning through and not finding themselves there indefinitely. There’s going to have to be a lot more accountability.”
The Government gave the Salvation Army a $450,000 grant for the year 2005/2006 but $396,000 was spent on staff salaries and allowances with just $65,000 going to the actual shelter complex, according to Health Ministry figures, which is one of the reasons Mrs. Minors ended up saying she was “fed up” with the charity asking for more money all the time.
Right now there are no substance abuse programmes, job counselling or advocacy programmes run on the premises by the Salvation Army. All the more reason, says government, for change.
Alexander Ming, the financial controller at Works and Engineering, recently helped prepare a paper for Cabinet. He wrote: “It is envisioned that the residential programme of the new facility will cater to up to 200 individuals daily. Strong emphasis will be placed on prevention and early intervention to keep the numbers low.”
He continued: “Staff of the Ministry of Health and Family Services have identified the fundamental elements of a successful residential programme for the homeless, which includes assessment, case management and programme evaluation, all of which are presently lacking. As a result, the Ministry will engage in a tender process to identify and select the best service provider to operate and oversee the delivery of programmes.”
Mrs. Minors says she looks forward to receiving the Salvation Army’s bid, which will be considered in the same way as all the other bids. She says she’s got no hard feelings towards the Army’s Major Lindsay Rowe, who sent her a Christmas present, but again, it all boils down to accountability. “We have a responsibility to ensure taxpayers’ money is being spent in the most effective way,” she said.
Mixed use
Mr. Ming said the $28,500,000 to be spent over the next three years will be used for planning, design and construction.
He said: “The mix use facility will: provide various levels of accommodation for those in need of refuge that are aesthetically pleasing and promote a sense of self worth and dignity for residents.”
He continued: “The redevelopment will be done in phases to accommodate the existing site occupants and to minimize disruption to the existing programme.” The expansion will also be able to accommodate people displaced from the Canadian Hotel on Reid Street, which is up for sale.
The budget is released in mid-February.
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