Woodstock Y neighbours plead for safety as planning for Homelessness Centre continues

Residents living behind the former YMCA want the county to take their safety concerns seriously. (Lee Griffi Photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

Several neighbours of the former Woodstock YMCA have gone public about their fears over Oxford County choosing the site as a Homelessness Support Centre.

Curtis Nicholson, whose side yard borders on the back of the former Y, believes the county does not want to use the Dundas Street entrance for intake but rather utilize the former daycare entrance at the back of the building.

“They want the front to look squeaky clean at the expense of the safety of the neighbourhood, the immediate neighbours and the children playing outside.”

He made it quite clear what safety measures he would like to see installed to keep his family and others safe.

“I want this parking lot sealed off with fencing, and if people come in by vehicle, I’d like to see a gate with a secured entry. I’d also like to see staff back here. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. I am not saying no shelter. I am saying let’s be sensible. If you have an open parking lot, that invites disaster.”

The Woodstock Police Service has a pair of Crime Prevention and Design Officers, one of whom will be involved in the building’s safety setup.

Nicholson added he was disappointed at the format of the July 15 public meeting held at the South Gate Centre where questions were either sent in electronically or on paper.

“We went to the meeting to try and get answers. We tried to scan the code, but it didn’t work on everyone’s phone. There were a lot of softball questions and scripted answers, and I wonder if that wasn’t done on purpose. It seemed everyone who asked a real question was kind of shunned.”

Nicholson and a few others walked out of the meeting in protest after he said their questions were not answered.

Andrea Miles, another neighbour who spoke at a recent Oxford County council meeting shortly after the initial announcement, lives close to the site with her partner, Jerone Burke. She said it was disappointing that neighbours weren’t consulted before the purchase but hopes that improves going forward.

“Initially we were opposed to the centre because there was no consultation with any of us. It was only after the building was sold that anyone became aware of it. We came to the realization there is nothing we could do to stop it.”

She added people in need deserve to be helped, but if the back door is used for admissions, she is concerned.

“Two things can be true at the same time. We can want help for them, and we can also not want it in our front yard. We’ve only been in this house for two years, and one of the main reasons we bought it is because there was a daycare across the street. How wonderful. We would open the door and hear kids playing and laughing.”

Miles’ family lives in the Greater Toronto Area and is encouraging the couple to move.

“But we love Woodstock and have made it our home. I have sat in my living room and cried because I love my house. I don’t want to leave my house, but I feel like I am being forced out of it. We just don’t know what’s going to happen with this situation.”

The couple are also concerned about their home’s property value.

“We feel like we’ve been given the short end of the stick. No one has even come around to talk to us. I emailed a bunch of elected officials, and the only one who responded was (City/County) Councillor Deb Tait.”

She added she was very nervous presenting to county council and was disappointed no elected officials asked any questions and the lack of answers in general.

“(Warden Marcus Ryan) attempted to address some of my concerns, but anyone who voiced their concerns at the South Gate meeting was spoken to condescendingly, looked down on like we were these evil people who don’t want to help the community, and that’s really not the case. We think it’s fine to help, but why put it in someone’s front yard?”

She added it is disappointing no one has any desire to hear from those who will be most affected by the centre. Nicholson explained the only way he feels he can have his voice heard is through the media but was able to speak to a pair of county staff involved in the project.

“I said I would like an ornamental fence put up around the entire property and a staff-only gated parking lot. If we are going to be safe here, we can not have foot traffic through the parking lot. We can have a facility here and coexist if everything is done facing Dundas – the intake, the lineups. They are saying they will have extra waiting rooms so people aren’t standing outside. That would not compromise the neighbourhood.”

Nicholson said he has sent official objections to elected officials and county staff. He hopes the safest possible plan will be implemented.

“Please take the danger of the intake away from us, our children, our community. We don’t deserve this. We are trying to be reasonable. None of us are saying no shelter. We are saying be responsible and plan responsibly.”

Miles pleaded with the county to allow their voices to be heard.

“Talk to us. Just come and talk to us. They haven’t yet.”