Mayor pushes for homeless shelter

A new multi-functional shelter could help solve Hamilton’s homeless problem, according to the city’s Mayor.

Graeme Outerbridge told the Bermuda Sun that a delegation had recently visited shelters in Toronto and the Canadian town of London in South East Ontario, to see what might work here.

Mr Outerbridge said it is time to get rid of the old Salvation Army shelter and replace it with a facility that deals with the whole spectrum of social issues faced by homeless men and women.

He added: “The Corporation can be a catalyst for change in this area.

“A template based on some of the things we have seen in South East Ontario and Toronto could be the way forward and we have spoken with Government about how this could be done.

“We are trying to come up with a real solution rather than just talking about the problem.

“It’s time we tackled this issue rather than depend on a poor facility by the marsh that should be condemned.

“We need to look to a facility that can assess people medically, feed them and provide shelter – all under one roof.

“There are people out there who do not want to live within the remit of structure and it’s a case of not one size fitting all.

“We have to have a collective and coordinated delivery of services. 

“There are people that are becoming a nuisance to businesses in Hamilton and the situation is not improving. Moving people on is not a solution it’s a coping skill.”

Mr Outerbridge’s comments come just over a year after the former PLP Government announced a $28 million plan to shelter the island’s homeless in a new emergency-housing complex. It never materialized.

The Mayor told the Sun that abuse of the current food provision system made the need for action even more pressing.

He added: “Today in Hamilton you can go to six or seven places when people are fed.

“And some people are abusing the system and choosing where to eat on individual nights based on what is being served.

“Some of the people taking advantage of the system are not socially challenged. The way forward has to ensure that the people who really need the help are the ones that receive it.”

The Salvation Army’s Divisional Commander Shawn Critch acknowledged that the shelter on Parsons Road needed to updated.

But he said he was hopeful that further announcements about a new homeless shelter would be forthcoming within the next six months.