People who live in a Georgetown neighbourhood are concerned about some of the activities in the area of a shelter for homeless people.
They say a significant number of syringes are strewn about a laneway which connects the area around the Gathering Place and the Lantern on Barnes Road. The passageway was closed a few weeks ago following complaints from residents.
George Masswohl, who lives in the area, says things have gotten worse over the past year-and-a-half or two. Since the closure of the lane, he says drug use in the parking lot of the Lantern has stopped. He acknowledges, though, that the problem has likely just moved elsewhere.
“Many of his neighbours back onto the alleyway and their backyards have been littered with syringes and other items,” he says. “They’re dealing with noise and they have children, who are in danger.”
He says they have to provide people who live that lifestyle with a place to go, but he’s not sure what the solution might be.