New low barrier homeless shelter running efficiently

The new low barrier shelter located on Chippewa Street seems to be working smoothly. 

That's according to North Bay city councillor Dave Mendicino, who is also the chair of Nipissing District Housing Corporation and a board member with District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) which is operating the new facility. 

The new facility is much smaller than what has been offered at the former low barrier facility at Pete Palangio Arena. 

"The transition is going well and I think it is running better than Palangio, and again we are learning as we go," noted Mendicino.  

"They are now operating 12 hours a day instead of 24: I think that helps. They are pretty much at capacity every night, as capacity is 12."

The low barrier shelter is a portable set up right next to the 16-bed transitional housing facility which was formerly an OPP building that had been vacant for years on Chippewa Street in North Bay. 

"It is going to be a 16-bed transitional supportive housing centre and one of the key recommendations out of the mayor's roundtable," said Mendicino. 

"This facility will assist individuals with mental health and addiction issues that are homeless. There is a varying degree of complexity there, just trying to transition them back into everyday life. Provide them with the services that they need to help overcome their mental health and addiction issues."

It's been a lot of work for officials trying to find homes for the homeless. Within the past year, the homeless shelter has moved around from the former Gd2Go location on Main Street to the Centre of Friends, to the YMCA and then to Pete Palangio arena.   

"It is a work in progress and has been made even more challenging with COVID-19 and what the complexities of dealing with this population brings you," said Mendicino.  

"It did attract some from out of town but again one of the processes that Nipissing Mental Health, the provider, has been successful at is redirecting these individuals back to their home town. Not just putting them on a bus but connecting them with services in their hometown and sending them back to their hometown. I mean, we've got our hands full dealing with the individuals from around here and I think NMHHSS and DSSAB are doing a good job of that."

See related: Pete Palangio homeless shelter decision delayed another week

Mendicino says they will be keeping a watchful eye on the location where traffic will become much busier with the start of the school year. A number of elementary schools and Chippewa Secondary School are located very close to the new homeless shelter. 

"We want to be good neighbours and if any issues come up we will address them," said Mendicino. 

"We are committed to the site, we feel it is a good site to create a mental health and addiction hub and we will deal with the issues as they come up.

"We have learned a lot along the way. It is not a perfect scenario yet but we are all working hard to get it there."