Thunder Bay – Letters – ” Save the downtown south side.” This is the message that business owners and residents in the area are sending to council. Administration’s decision to recommend the Miles Street location for a homeless village after council previously voted against this location is heartbreaking and reckless.
The city of Timmins, Ont. moved their homeless shelter known as “Living Space”: in 2021 from near city hall and have recently voted to have an independent review to move it again.
The public wants it outside residential and commercial zones as many homeowners are witnessing more home invasions, thefts assaults and drug use since it moved to its present location.
Robert Boucher, a homeowner in the area of Living Space started a facebook site calling for the relocation of the shelter.
The site already has 6,300 members and they were successful in getting the review they were asking for. Bill Gvozdanovic, a ward 3 councillor in Timmins said he gives the public in Timmins credit.
“They understand that we need to help people but we also have to live here too.”
Administration in Thunder Bay is completely ignoring the downtown residents and businesses in the south core who are requesting that the city find a suitable location for a homeless village that won’t have a negative effect on them.
We are very lucky that many of these businesses are still here contributing to our tax base after all the poor decisions of previous councils. The city is about to put about 17 million dollars into revitalizing the downtown south core.
Putting a homeless village in the midst of this downtown area against the wishes of those who live, work and pay taxes here is self destructing and a deterrent for the public to stay away from this area.
Tonight it is hoped that the council, led by Mayor Ken Boshcoff will do the right thing and vote no a second time on the Miles Street location for a homeless village as recommended by administration.
Ray Smith
