UPDATED: Mobile homes purchased for homeless in Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Homeless folks in Charlottetown will quickly be capable to transfer into cellular house items because the province makes an attempt to discover a short-term answer that may convey folks in from the chilly.

In an interview with SaltWire Community on Sept. 13, P.E.I. Social Improvement and Housing Minister Matt MacKay mentioned as much as 52 of those modular properties have been ordered from western Canada.

“In round 60 to 70 days time, these items will arrive right here,’’ MacKay mentioned.

The minister additionally confirmed information out of a metropolis council public assembly on Sept. 12 that these cellular items shall be positioned outdoors the previous authorities storage on the nook of Riverside Drive and Park Avenue in Charlottetown.

MacKay mentioned this can be a short-term answer to provide individuals who have been residing within the 5 tent encampments a spot to go for the winter.

The minister mentioned the set-up will function six modules in two complexes. Every complicated is 4,300 sq. ft. There shall be about 22 to 25 beds per complicated.

The minister mentioned there are about 113 homeless folks Islandwide in the meanwhile, a quantity that’s solely going to climb.

“This has been an ongoing concern. There are 5 tent encampments (in Charlottetown) and, on the finish of the day, we all know there may be not sufficient shelter beds for this quantity (of homeless).

The information first went public on the council assembly on Sept. 12.

Coun. Terry MacLeod informed council there have been rumours of an emergency shelter being arrange by the province on the former authorities storage.

MacLeod, who represents that space, mentioned he opposes the choice.

“When it doesn’t work in a single space of town, to maneuver it some place else shouldn’t be going to work,’’ MacLeod mentioned in an interview after the assembly, referring to the 5 tent encampments. “It’s not going to unravel the issue. On the finish of the day, it’s acquired to be someplace secure for each the parents who want the assistance, psychological well being assist and addictions assist. Placing it in an space that has a fence round it isn’t going to unravel the issue.’’

MacLeod added that the difficulty of the tent encampments shouldn’t be a metropolis concern however a provincial duty.

MacKay mentioned on Sept. 13 he’s saddened by MacLeod’s remarks.

“That is all fingers on deck,’’ the minister mentioned. “There are folks on the road whether or not they wish to be or not, and the issue shouldn’t be going to go away. All of us have to work collectively to rectify this and provide you with a long-term answer. On the finish of the day, there is no such thing as a room in politics on this. These are human beings’ lives … and we have to assist them.’’

MacKay mentioned conferences befell Aug. 11, Aug. 18 and Sept. 6 with numerous stakeholders, together with Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown and MacLeod from town and representatives with Holland Faculty, Charlottetown Space Improvement Company (CADC) and Maritime Electrical.

The conferences had been about discovering a short-term answer to get the homeless out of the chilly winter temperatures.

MacKay mentioned including safety is a part of the plan, as is ensuring residents have entry to companies equivalent to dental and medical care.

MacKay mentioned the cellular items are all above-ground and much like housing offered to those that work in oil and industrial camps in western Canada.

“They’re items which have warmth, and they’d have shared washroom amenities,’’ the minister mentioned. “The explanation we went this manner was it was the quickest answer. We needed to act; we needed to do one thing. Winter is coming and … we didn’t wish to see homeless folks on the road with no place to go.’’

At a look

That is the present shelter and emergency housing capability in P.E.I.:

• Bedford-MacDonald Home (Charlottetown) – 10 beds.

• Blooming Home (Charlottetown) – eight beds.

• Chief Mary Bernard (girls and kids fleeing violence) – 5 beds.

• Anderson Home (girls and kids fleeing violence) – eight beds.

• Smith Lodge (transitional – Charlottetown) – 9 beds.

• Smith Lodge (emergency – Charlottetown) – six to 11 beds.

• Scattered websites (Summerside, elsewhere) – 10 beds.