Residents asking questions and seeking answers at a meeting into a proposed Third Street shelter for the homeless. Photos by Christina Murie.
About 200 concerned and sometimes boisterous residents showed up to express their mixed opinions at a meeting on a proposed 80-bed homeless shelter on Third Street.
A large hall at Humber College was packed with an overflow crowd as Toronto Police and security officers looked on as residents asked questions and tried to obtain information from speakers on the planned shelter for the homeless on the site of a City parking lot at 66 Third Street.
There were many against the shelter and those who support the project, one of 19 proposed citywide to help the homeless population. Many said they support the facility but not the location.
Councillor Amber Morley was laced with questions from residents on the controversial shelter at a meeting held at Humber College.
City shelters have to turn away more than 200 hundreds homeless nightly in this freezing weather due to a lack of beds.
Many of those at the meeting were asking why there wasn’t public consultation on the planned shelter, which is expected to be completed by 2030.
MP James Maloney was in attendance along with Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley, who has said she fully support the shelter and faced a number of questions.
Morley said she had no say in the location of the shelter, which was among 100 sites examined by City officials.
MPP Christine Hogarth in a recent letter said her office has been fielding calls as to a lack of public meeting.
Proposed and controversial 80-bed shelter planned for Third Street.
Hogarth has written Morley stating that a lack of public consultation is troubling.
“I am hearing growing sentiment that such a significant decision should have involved community input from the outset, not after the site was chosen.”
Many residents against the proposed shelter warned it will be close to two elementary schools and a seniors residence.
The community has been mobilizing as City crews conduct surveys and pre-construction work on the project.
More than 2,000 people have signed an online petition against the facility, and less than 200 had signed a second petition in support of the shelter.
Almost $6,000 has been raised on a Go Fund Me page created by a group called The New Toronto Initiative.
“It’s important that this decision involves more thoughtful planning and community input to ensure the best outcome for both shelter clients and local residents,” according to the group.
No other meetings or initiatives are planned.