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Coleman gives $8 million to keep shelters going to 2013

April 16th, 2010 · 8 Comments

I was at a leadership prayer breakfast this morning when this news popped up on the net.

Mayor Gregor Robertson, Housing Minister Rich Coleman and First United Church minister Ric Matthews, whose church has been turned into one of the shelters, were all looking very happy and cordial as they discussed the news announcement afterwards.

Here’s the government news release

SHELTERS

Categories: Uncategorized

  • Denis

    Coleman is giving nothing. The government was getting heat so suddenly up comes some money. You and I plus other tax payers are doing the giving. I am pleased to be paying my share

  • Lewis N. Villegas

    Three shelters, and 328 spaces, will close in stages over the next four years. The city’s homeless count had 400 sleeping outside during the first week of April. Those folks are not going to get help. And, the press release confirms that 232 spaces will close at the end of April:

    “The Province will also offer shelter and housing options to all homeless people currently staying at the four winter-response shelters in Vancouver. These shelters are closing by April 30 in order to meet the commitment made by both the City and the Province to surrounding neighbourhoods. The Province and the non-profit shelter operators have been meeting with people staying at the shelters to find spaces at provincially and privately owned SRO hotels, other shelters and in provincially subsidized affordable housing.”

    Since SROs and other shelters are not supported housing, we are still very much in need of a plan and a system. Do we have any estimates of what we expect in homelessness in the coming five years? Will we embrace a zero-tolerance policy for both homelessness, and social housing without supports?

    Finally, what are the relationships like between the city and the ministry? It looks like there is no plan in place so far. Is there one in the works? Who’s foot is the shoe on now?

  • Frank Murphy

    Frances – off topic here but I thought you’d be interested in a follow up development at our new Nanaimo civic politics blog. The local Black tab the Nanaimo Daily News (Black Press is – or was, I’m not sure where the negotiations are at at this point – as you know bidding on the Canwest papers including your Sun and Province) gave us front page coverage and an editorial.

    news story: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/91057224.html

    editiorial: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/opinion/91057724.html

    Thanks again for your help in getting the word out.

  • Frank Murphy

    Frances – in a comment sent earlier (awaiting moderation due to the links contained in it, I think) I mistakenly refer to the Nanaimo Daily News. Correction: The Black Press paper here is the Nanaimo News Bulletin.

  • Frances Bula

    FYI, Frank and all others — it used to be “my Sun” but it isn’t any more. I’ve been a freelancer since July 2008. But congrats on the coverage.

  • Frank Murphy

    Thanks Frances – I meant “yours” in the sense of “Vancouver’s”. I walk down to the harbour every (well most) mornings and pick up my Globe (and often run into and have animated chat with Urbanismo) and follow your filings with interest.

  • michael geller

    I am in total agreement with the need to give people alternatives to having to sleep on the streets. However, we also need to give more attention to the costs and benefits of shelters vs. the alternatives.

    I would like to know more about the actual costs per person, per night. Is the average cost really $80, or $2400 per month, which is what I have been told? Anywhere from $50 to $200 per night according to someone at StreetoHome, depending on the level of services.

    That’s right, $2400 per month, on average, for a cot in a shelter.

    If this cost estimate is wrong, I would like someone to tell us. But if it is right, I would also like those in the ‘housing the homeless’ business to let us know if it is money well spent, compared to the option of putting someone in a $900 a month apartment, with related support services.

    This is how provincial and city officials in Toronto went about solving the problem….rather than fund shelters.

    Somehow, this seems like a better solution for me, especially since the program has had a 91% success rate in terms of keeping people in their new homes, with many getting into the labour force.

  • RossK

    Interesting query Mr. Geller – any idea what the cost per month of those ‘related support services’ are in T.O.?

    Thanks.

    .