A local housing advocate has written the executive director of End Homelessness St. John’s questioning the action taken, or not taken, to address homelessness in the capital city.
Late last year a task force made up of government members, city officials and local not-for-profit groups to address homelessness in and around the metro region.
Among them was Doug Pawson of End Homelessness St. John’s.
Doug Pawson
One of the solutions brought forward was an arrangement to use the Airport Comfort Inn as a transition house. It was later revealed that government would lease the facility at a cost of $7 million a year for three years.
Housing advocate Mark Wilson says he has written Pawson highlighting the fact that people are still living in tents on the grounds around Colonial Building.
Wilson claims the involvement of Pawson and End Homelessness St. John’s in the task force is “confusing and prolonging the matter.”
Pawson, meanwhile, says some people are already staying at the Comfort Inn and a lot of work continues to happen behind the scenes.
He says they’re working toward a 24/7 staffing model, and integration of primary health supports with a phased-in approach, based on the experiences in other jurisdictions where hotels have been turned into transitional housing.
“Again, it’s really focused on housing and stabilizing living situations while people work toward their health and housing goals,” he said.
