Both Sides of Transition House State Their Case

By 250 News

Full house at Prince George Council Chambers  (photo at left).  There were  so many on hand for this evening’s meeting,  that an additional 60 seats had to be set up  in the  area outside the Chambers, (photo at right) complete with monitors and sound so  those who could find a seat in the Chamber would be part of the  proceedings.     

Before the public hearing on the  change of the Official Community Plan to  allow  for the construction of Friendship Lodge a  transitional  housing complex actually got underway,  Mayor Colin Kinsley announced that once the hearing was closed,  the matter will be  deferred to the next regular meeting of Council which is December 3rd.

There have been  more than 200 pieces of correspondence on ths matter delivered to  City Hall,  166 were in favour, 53 opposed.  Of those in favour,  there were letters from B.C. Housing and the Native Friendship Centre there were also a significant number of letters from Prince George residents, although  their addresses were not  written on most of the letters of support, so it is not  certain they live in the affected neighbourhood.

Architect Anthony Boni presented the design aspects of Friendship Lodge (shown at right) saying there is high visibility to the street and to the courtyard of the facility so there is  a "natural surveillance" for staff to  be able to see what is happening throughout the facility.

Next to speak was Armin Amrolia of B.C. Housing.  She told Council B.C Housing is putting up 100% of funding for the building and Northern Health will provide $300 thousand dollars a  year for programs.  She also says the property was purchased  in the spring of 2005 after the city had identified the Queensway site as one  B.C. Housing might be interested in buying.  Amrolia says BC Housing respects the rezoning process, and they will accept whatever decision Council makes.

The Executive Director of the Native Friendship Centre, Barb Ward-Burkitt  says  Friendship Lodge "Is meant  to be a home,"  she told  Council "Drug use will not be tolerated and alcohol use will not be promoted in public areas." As for how long a tenant will stay, Ward-Burkitt says some could live there for years."If they have never had a home, they may need  time to build up those life skills so it  could take some time to  bring them to a  point where they can be completely  independent."

It is estimated  1% of the Canadian population suffers with a serious mental illness.  "If that is the case" says Paul Becklake,  who is in charge of mental health and addictions programs with Northern Health, "We should have 700 housing units in Prince George , currently we have 140 units."  According to Becklake, it is  Northern Health’s intention to have mentally  ill patients  as residents of  Friendship Lodge.

Joanne MacMillan was  the first to speak on behalf of the  Millar/Connaught  Concerned Citizens.   She said  placing this kind of project in a residential  neighbourhood is an effort to move the problems out of downtown  to a larger geographic area.  She says  there has been no evidence  that such transitional housing  is successful. She reffered to city documents which called for planning to reflect the urban quality and character of the area, recognizing it’s heritage factor.  MacMillan made three "personal" observations,  

1. She suggested conflict of interest on behalf of some Councillors as they have been  members of committees or  societies which  deal with homelessness. 
2. She believes the property was puchased with the expectation the rezoning would be a "slam-dunk"
3. Although  she had requested all  information ane correspondence  involving this matter from the City, the material was delivered yesterday and some is missing, leading her to suggest information is being held back , proving to her that this was a done deal.

Mayor Kinsley  advised the allegations are serious and will be dealt with, but  not at this venue.

Resident Anne Rushton  says the Friendship Lodge  is to be  operated  on the same model as Bridgette Moran place, and proceeded to present  stats and photos of the neighbourhood.  The photos show condoms and  needles,  people  sleeping on public grounds and behind  the special housing units. The stats  indicate that over a two year period, the RCMP have answered  721 calls from  Bridgete Moran Place, Ket ’so Yo  Mens Shelter,  McQuaid Place, and  Reconnect Youth. That  amounts to 1.18 calls per day from the four facilities.   She  noted City Hall has recently  hired a security guard to keep  an eye on those who are  hanging around the building  she asked "If City Hall recognizes there is a concern for the safety of their employees, then how are they going to ensure we are safe in our neighbourhood?"

Tim Graham with the Millar/Connaught concerned Citizens presented a petition with  more than 700 names of people opposing the project.  Of that number, 520 are of Millar /Connaught  area, 179 are from other areas on the city, 17  are from people living outside Prince George, and 9 had the  address ommitted.

A man named Vance Labukan  delivered a prepared  statement,  a member of Positive Living North, he says he is homeless, and has been living in tents for the past nine months.  He told Council  he supports Friendship Lodge, as this is an opportunity  to be in a better frame of mind and help others reach their goals. "The community doesn’t need to be afraid of me or Friendship Lodge."

Council  will now  revisit  the matter   and debate the issue  at the  next regular meeting of Council which is December  3rd. 

Mayor Colin Kinsley asked the City Clerk for some clarification on how to deal with the  allegations made by  Joanne MacMillan.  Mayor Kinsley says he would like that to be dealt with at a public forum so  Councillor’s  can respond to  the allegations.

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