An advocate for homeless says SaanichB次元官网网址檚 decision to use the former Emily Carr library for its own staff appears consistent with SaanichB次元官网网址檚 actions.
Marilou Gagnon, a registered nurse and an associate professor in UVicB次元官网网址檚 School of Nursing, who is also president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, made that observation, when asked about SaanichB次元官网网址檚 plan to renovate the empty building for its own use.
A report recommends Saanich spend $2.1 million for upgrades to the building in the 3500 block of Blanshard Street, as well as municipal hall and its annex.
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The recommendation marks a turning point in the history of the building, because it confirms and consolidates the presence of municipal staff in the building, eliminating B次元官网网址� at least for now B次元官网网址� other options for its use.
B次元官网网址淭he idea of using it for people who are homeless was raised at some point but I donB次元官网网址檛 think ever seriously considered,B次元官网网址� said Gagnon in reference to plans from former mayor Richard Atwell, who had proposed turning the building into temporary housing for residents of the tent city that had sprung up in nearby Regina Park.
The proposal surprised staff and council in failing to get support. But it remained a source of controversy during the municipal election campaign that eventually ended in the election of current Mayor Fred Haynes, who opposed AtwellB次元官网网址檚 idea, after he was initially prepared to vote in favour of researching it.
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This happened three days after Saanich informed the public that it would look into using the building for additional office space following a facilities review.
The homeless population remained in Regina Park until the middle of September, after which its remaining residents moved around the region, following a court decision in favour of Saanich and the provincial government.
B次元官网网址淚t is pretty obvious Saanich had no plans to help homeless people,B次元官网网址� said Gagnon. B次元官网网址淭hey took them to [B.C. Supreme Court] and chased them around until the point of exhaustion. People who were at tent city have been back on the street for a while now. This decision seems to be aligned with the rest of the decisions made by Saanich so far.B次元官网网址�
Earlier this fall, Saanich offered land to the province in exchange for supportive housing, but the provincial government rejected the land after an assessment deemed it unsuitable.
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B次元官网网址淚 still think that the former Emily Carr library is what council should put forth in good faith if we truly want to move forward with modular housing,B次元官网网址� Atwell said on Oct. 10.
An official with the ministry of municipal affairs and housing speaking on background said the ministry and the municipality considered B次元官网网址渕ultiple locationsB次元官网网址� while neither confirming nor denying that the former library was among them.
Since those discussions happened during in-camera meetings closed to the public, BC Housing could not reveal those locations, the official said, adding that BC Housing looks forward to discussing potential supportive housing locations with the new mayor and council.
Megan Catalano, a Saanich spokesperson, said Saanich previously offered access to land at the Municipal Hall campus for modular supportive housing units. B次元官网网址淲e continue to work with the provincial government to find land on which supportive modular housing can be built,B次元官网网址� she said.
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