Kitchener's low-barrier shelter to close Monday, leaving 100 residents facing uncertainty

As of Monday, one of Waterloo region's few low-barrier shelters will close, leaving its 100 residents facing an uncertain future.

The shelter, located at the former Schwaben Club on 1668 King St. E. in Kitchener, is run by The Working Centre. Support workers said they are concerned that the closure will put additional stress on an already strained shelter system. 

"Most of the other shelters are full. They have saved beds for us but what happens to the people still on the street," said Jesse Belanger, a support worker at the shelter. 

Belanger said he believes the closure will leave a large void in the region's shelter system. Since the shelter is low-barrier, it does not have the typical rules other shelters set like maintaining sobriety, not bringing in pets and not allowing couples. 

Belanger says that without the low-barrier shelter many homeless people struggling with addiction may have to stay out on the street. 

"We're left with our most vulnerable of the vulnerable that just have no place to go and they will stay on the streets," he said. 

Regional response

The Region of Waterloo has been preparing for the closure for a while.

"We stopped new intakes to the shelter as of March 1 so that we could work intentionally with all of the residents that are there," said Ryan Pettipiere, director of housing at the Region of Waterloo.

Pettipiere added that he is confident that the region will be able to find a space for everyone at the shelter. 

However, Joe Mancini, director of the Working Centre, warns that the region is facing an already overwhelmed shelter system. 

"They really are responding by squeezing people into the shelters that are still available," Mancini said. 

Mancini added that he does appreciate the work the region is doing to relocate people. 

"They've really worked hard to ensure that there is a spot for as many people as possible," he said. 

But even if the region is able to find housing for everyone, there may be circumstances where some of the people at the shelter refuse the region's offer. 

This was the case with Randall Crook. He has been living at the shelter with his wife since October of last year. The couple was offered a room at the Super 8 Motel in Cambridge but Crook refused because of a traumatic experience they had there.

Eventually, the region was able to find him and his wife another place to stay.

"We won't be homeless, we won't be on the streets. We're grateful to the shelter and the region," he said. 

Crook is still concerned about other people at the shelter though. 

"I'm worried about some people, they might be left out and I'm not sure what their plans are for them," he said. 

While Crook and his wife were given another option, others have not been as lucky so far.

Glen Soikie, who lives at the shelter, was offered housing closer to Cambridge. Soikie says his family lives near the shelter and he wants to be close to them to maintain a relationship with his kids. 

"It would've taken me an hour and a half just to visit my children one way," he said. 

"With small children, I think it's important for the father figure to be on the scene," he said. 

Soikie will likely have to find another shelter or go back to living on the streets.

Adjusting to a new shelter

Finding another shelter may prove difficult because others are more strict, and it can also be difficult for an unhoused person to adjust to a new shelter, Belanger said.

He explained shelters can provide a sense of community for people experiencing homelessness, and people build relationships with support workers and other people who use the shelter. But, Belanger added, going to a new shelter means starting all over again. 

"This space has become home for a lot of people. They've built friendships here, we've built relationships with them," said Belanger.

"I'm just watching people's mental health decline and it's really sad," he continued. 

Going forward, the region is prioritizing permanent housing when looking for accommodations for people in the shelter. People have also been placed in supportive housing, other emergency shelters and motels. 

People experiencing homelessness in the region can reach out to First Connect at 519-624-9133 to be connected with emergency shelters and support workers.