In a four-to-two decision, Williams Lake city council voted in favour of supporting statutory immunity for a homeless shelter at the Elks Hall.
BC Housing was granted the provision at the regular council meeting on March 26, fast-tracking the process and avoiding a lengthy rezoning application. According to the report from city staff, the move limits the city’s liability and avoids permanently changing the property zoning. Once BC Housing leaves the location, the shelter could no longer be operated there.
The proposal will speed up the process to allow for the development and operation of a temporary emergency shelter at the building, located at 98 First Ave South by BC Housing. Their proposal includes creating a 24-7 facility, with a secure outdoor area, in order to provide somewhere for people to be during the day.
The location has been a hotly contested topic, with many downtown business owners rallying against the relocation of the existing emergency shelter, at the Hamilton Hotel.
BC Housing and shelter staff have said the Hamilton Hotel is not an appropriate facility for the shelter, and it was meant only as a temporary solution during Covid. BC Housing has reportedly tried to purchase the building in order to redevelop it to be more suitable but the negotiations were unsuccessful.
Before the meeting, with storm clouds gathering overhead, drummers, singers and people holding signs gathered outside the city hall. Judy Ventry, one of the people singing and drumming said their presence was a show of support for the council, because it is such a tough decision.
Members of the public, both for and against, packed the council chambers to witness the meeting and subsequent vote. Council once again allowed members of the public to speak on the topic, though it was not required by the process because it was not a public hearing.
More than 60 people were in attendance and 22 people spoke, with those against the proposed location only a few more than those for the project.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), which is the organization managing the current shelter and would be working with BC Housing on a proposal to manage the new facility, said they would be unwilling to operate the site without the explicit backing of the council.
After a gruelling three hours of discussion, the four-two vote surprised many.
Most of the council and the mayor spoke at length, with the exception of Coun. Jazmyn Lyons, who excused herself from the debate and vote, declaring a conflict of interest because building ownership. Crystal and Stefan Hoelzler of Wave Properties own the Elks Hall and the building her business is in.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor addressed many of the suggestions put forward by opponents to the Elks Hall location. He said School District 27 has other plans for Glendale Elementary, which is also currently in use by the Williams Lake Studio Theatre Society. Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) owns the site where Poplar Glade Elementary was located, and has other plans for this spot as well. The former Jackpine Forest Products Ltd. site is also part of a proposal by Massive Canada and is not an option.
Rathor referred to misinformation being put out on social media about the project and asked the public to be respectful, noting the attacks on the property owners were unnecessary. He also pointed out he had gone through the petition put forward online, noting many of the signatories were not from the community, some from as far away as France.
“It’s a very highly emotional item we’re discussing here,” he said.
The mayor also pointed out councillors have been in discussions about the project for many months, so it is unfair for anyone on council to express surprise at the project itself.
Coun. Angie Delainey emphasized the role of council, how important it was for them to have a seat at the table in the process and in working with BC Housing to address homelessness in the community, and limited her scope to considering statutory immunity for the location.
She expressed her frustration and disappointment at the lack of community consultation and communication on the part of BC Housing, but noted the fear and opposition may still have been there anyhow.
“I’m a huge advocate for good communication,” she said.
Delainey also emphasized the granting of statutory immunity is just step one, and the project is not being paid for by the city, but the city will be working to support BC Housing in finding a longer term solution.
“Council is responsible for the whole community, and that includes the unhoused,” she said, adding those in the business community need to work together with the city to support accessing grants and increasing community policing.
Coun. Scott Nelson, speaking remotely from vacation, said he thought the proposal was “an ambush” and said he thought it had been handled wrong. He said he felt the proposed five-year lease period is not temporary.
“It’s not necessarily the location at this point in time, there are just not the right services,” he said.
Coun. Boehm spoke emotionally, expressing ongoing frustration with BC Housing and the lack of progress on the proposed Jubilee Place redevelopment.
She was glad council had taken the extra time, despite it being a divisive topic, and said the federal and provincial governments have failed municipalities in dealing with the issues of homelessness and drug addiction.
“When did we normalize homelessness?” she asked. Boehm pushed BC Housing representatives on the Jubilee Housing project, asking for a commitment of a timeline and for BC Housing to meet with staff.
Tyler Baker, with BC Housing, attending remotely, said BC Housing would be happy to meet with city staff, but he did not yet have a more exact timeline for the Jubilee project, though the project is ongoing.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” said Boehm, once again expressing her lack of confidence in BC Housing.
Coun. Joan Flaspohler was also emotional as she addressed the room, and made a passionate promise to work with the shelter to help beautify the area, and asking others to join her in supporting the project’s success.
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“The impacts are happening whether you like it or not,” she said, noting she worried about the implications for the community if there is no shelter, which could limit the city’s ability to take down or move encampments.
Flaspohler spoke strongly against some of the negative online rhetoric and pointed out the current shelter’s successes.
She said in the past six months, 13 people staying in the Hamilton had been able to move on to transition housing at Jubilee Place and 24 had been moved on to market housing. Many of those in the shelter are working with staff to find solutions to their situations.
“I am an action person, not someone who just vocalizes on a personal level on social media but does nothing,” she said, emphasizing the need for partnerships and acknowledging the location is not ideal, and everyone is worried, but entreated people to work to support the project and the homeless population.
Coun. Michael Moses shared his own personal connection to homelessness, having had family use shelters like the one being discussed and said the community has to break down the barriers to accessing care.
He also pointed out the importance of the decision for reconciliation, and how critical it is to continue to build those relationships and the trust between city council and First Nations communities.
Councillors Delainey, Moses, Flaspohler and Boehm voted in favour of the recommendation from staff to grant the statutory immunity. Some expressed shock as Boehm raised her hand in favour, after she spoke so strongly against BC Housing.
Coun. Nelson and Mayor Rathor voted against.
The vote will allow BC Housing to now move ahead on their plans to renovate the space in order to create the new 40-bed temporary shelter.
BC Housing’s current lease with the Hamilton Hotel is ending and BC Housing will be closing their location there to move to the new site once it is ready.
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