The frustration was evident at West Âé¶čAV council Tuesday (July 9) over what it sees as a lack of provincial assistance in dealing with the cityâs homeless.
Several councillors criticized the province following discussion that the pilot Westside Resource Hygiene Centre, planned for Churchill Road, would not be moving forward.
âThe people are still here, they havenât gone away,â said Councillor Carol Zanon. Itâs not our primary job it was downloaded on us.â
She added the province needs to step up, asking âWhere is the counselling and healthcare?â
The hygiene centre would have provided showers, washrooms, hot meals and other support to those experiencing homelessness. Mayor Gord Milsom said the centre was a band-aid solution, adding the province needs to take a stronger role in providing assistance.
âYou hear sort of lip service as far as commitment but are they doing it? No theyâre not.â
The mayor did praised the community organizations that stepped forward to help with the hygiene centre.
âBut there is only so much we can do as a city. We donât have the healthcare expertise.
Coun. Garrett Millsap noted the city received hundreds of responses from residents about the centre's proposed location.
That was also a concern during councilâs June 11 meeting, where it heard that some unhoused individuals were migrating from Âé¶čAV.
âThatâs where the province is funding the resources,â Millsap said. âWeâre inheriting Âé¶čAVâs problem on this side of the bridge without the funding.â
He added the province needs to come to the table in West Âé¶čAV.
âLast time I checked weâre at a giant goose egg over here.â
Council is expected to further address the issue of unhoused individuals during strategic priority planning in the fall.