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PODCAST: King on homeless hub, warming centre and Chippewa

King says last winter a group of unhoused people in West Nipissing destroyed hotel rooms they were provided — some smeared human feces on the walls
2024-06-06-mark-king-echo
Chair of DNSSAB Board Mark King

In the Echo Essentials Podcast clip above, District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board Chair Mark King discusses the issues DNSSAB faced in attempting to assist a group of unhoused people in West Nipissing, including how some smeared human feces on the walls of the hotel rooms they had received at no cost. 

See related: PODCAST: Homelessness, mental health and addictions — is anything working?

King, also a city councillor, joined hosts Scott Clark and Dave Dale in the North Bay Echo Community Podcast studio in late May to discuss the placement of a proposed homeless hub, the location of the warming centre this winter, and the backlash received from stakeholders of Chippewa Intermediate and Secondary School due to the proximity to the low-barrier shelter at Northern Pines across Chippewa Street West and the associated public drug use and social disorder.

King and the DNSSAB Board of Directors are expected to discuss (and perhaps vote) on homeless hub options during their June 24 meeting.

See also: A new homeless hub near downtown North Bay? 

The Echo Essentials Podcast ties together all of the elements of the North Bay Echo Community Podcast Network and is hosted by Essentials newsletter editor Dale and Echo’s principal partner Clark. North Bay Echo is a network of podcasts focusing on our community. Guests on the weekly Echo Essentials Podcast reflect on the challenges and issues facing North Bay while Clark and Dale discuss the topics and podcasts featured in the newsletters.

Find the full-length episode of the podcast featuring King as the guest and other podcast offerings at North Bay Echo