Community group looking for safety and security as Woodstock homelessness centre planning proceeds

Lee Griffi, Editor

A recently formed group has given Oxford County Council a list of requests to implement before the Woodstock Homelessness Support Centre opens its doors sometime in 2028.

LeeAnn Van-Wees from the Y Neighbourhood Committee delivered a presentation at a recent council meeting outlining the group’s six asks (see graphic on page 2/3) to ensure, among other things, the safety of residents in the surrounding area. She explained that while a staff report outlines several safety measures, they do not go far enough.

“Verbal intentions do not protect a neighbourhood. Institutional mechanisms do. If this $5.5 million project moves from the design phase into reality without consideration of the entire neighbourhood, there is less likelihood of its success, as has been proven in other communities.”

Van-Wees added the long-term survival of local businesses and the daily safety of our families can’t rely on a reactive wait-and-see approach.

“If we wait until a safety crisis impacts nearby homes and storefronts before we react, reactive measures will destroy public trust. The time to protect this neighbourhood is now while the facility blueprints, operating budgets and service provider contracts are being drawn up.”

She explained public trust is fragile, and once a neighbourhood fractures, it takes decades to rebuild.

“We urge council to pass a formal directive ensuring these neighbourhood protection metrics are legally integrated into any forthcoming operational agreements for the proposed Homelessness Support Centre.”

Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione was the first councillor to respond and said he agreed with all six points, adding he is starting a neighbourhood watch committee through the city’s Mayor’s Task Force.

“Staff from the county, from the city, Woodstock police, as well as bylaw and a few other members that I think are important. We would welcome any resident who lives in the neighbourhood or any resident, for that matter.”

The Echo spoke with Van-Wees following the presentation, and she said overall she was pleased council recognized the importance of safety for the neighbourhood beyond the perimeter of the former YMCA. She added businesses are worried their customers are not going to feel safe on that part of the street.

“They are concerned it is not going to be as easy to be a welcoming business. They are also concerned about how they are going to protect their staff and ensure the properties are kept clean and safe. And of course, the visual reality is there are going to be more homeless people congregating in the area.”

She said one of the first doors she knocked on was a young mother who barely opened her door but listened to what Van-Wees had to say.

“She listened to me and very carefully said she understood there is a need to help the homeless. She was just so afraid of what her kids are going to see when they open the door in the morning. I thought for the least empowered individual I would come across, she wrapped up the core of the concern better than anyone.”

Van-Wees said area residents are worried about safety but also about the unknown in terms of the eventual physical design of the building and everything else that will come with it once the centre opens. On the positive side, she is hopeful the HART Hub and Homelessness Centre will lead to improvements when it comes to the city’s socio-economic woes.

“I have no doubt whatsoever it will make a difference for some people. I have no doubt the planners are working hard to make it possible for success for anyone wanting to go through their program, and I have no doubt they are trying to make it safe within their perimeter. My concern is beyond the perimeter of 808 Dundas St.”

She expects many of the unhoused population will gravitate to the neighbourhood but choose to not participate in the programs available inside.

“That’s where my optimism starts to get less exuberant. Unfortunately, that’s the reality of urban living.”

Van-Wees added some current members of Oxford County Council expressed interest in making sure the surrounding community will have a sense of safety, but there is nothing that suggested to her the appropriate measures would be incorporated into the actual plan.

“There’s nothing to suggest council is going to make a well-defined commitment to the neighbourhood outside of the property. There is recognition programs will be necessary for the area, but there is nothing definite in terms of a promise of a portion of the budget going to safety. To be honest, it’s like a hot potato.”

She added the questions around safety brought up at July’s public meeting resulted in answers that they don’t know because, until a plan is in place, no one knows how police are going to handle what may occur.

“There’s nothing definite in terms of a firm commitment to ensure the safety of the neighbourhood. The scariest part is the unknown and not getting answers. My sense is there has been a bit of evasiveness to those hard questions.”

Van-Wees said she specifically brought up the six asks to get council to commit to them, but that decision will likely fall to the next council following municipal elections across Oxford County. She added there isn’t anyone who doesn’t want to help the homeless; she just wants to ensure safety is top of mind.

“Who doesn’t want to make sure as few people as possible are having to sleep out in the cold? How can you be against that? But I feel quite strongly such a visible location like the former Y property there could potentially be a lot of damage to the overall image of Woodstock. I want it to work, and I want to see success, but then the realities of what might happen, and at what cost.”

The centre is expected to open in the spring of 2028.