The Mayor of Corner Brook is seeking greater consultation and co-ordination in how homelessness is being addressed in the west coast city.
Corner Brook has seen an uptick in panhandling, and petty crime in the West Street area of the downtown now that the Corner Brook Hotel has been—for all intents and purposes—turned into an emergency shelter.
Jim Parsons says Newfoundland and Labrador Housing insists the hotel is renting out rooms for emergency housing, but he says it’s becoming apparent that the facility has become a “proper shelter.”
Parsons says homelessness is a problem in downtown areas across Canada according to conversations he’s had with municipal leaders at the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in Ottawa, and Corner Brook is relatively new to the phenomenon.
Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons (Facebook)
He takes issue with the way in which the issue is being handled. He’s not arguing with the need for emergency shelter, or even that the downtown is the best place for that kind of facility, but he says the problem has been “imported and concentrated” in a specific area—without consultation.
“It’s not being done above-board,” charges Parsons, “we understand that the non-profit organizations in the city are working with a number of individuals, and I don’t mean to disparage their work, they’re doing great work and trying really hard. But this needs to be coordinated and planned properly instead of being snuck into our downtown without the proper care taking place.” He cites the need for appropriate safety and security measures, and reassurance to area businesses and residents.
