Corner Brook cannot solve 'acute' housing crisis on its own, mayor says

The mayor of Corner Brook says while communities across Newfoundland and Labrador are grappling with a lack of housing, municipalities like his lack the staff and resources to tackle the problem alone. 

"The city itself doesn't have any staff related to housing or social issues, for that matter. We have a pretty narrow mandate sometimes," he told CBC News in a recent interview.

Earlier this week, the provincial government announced a five-point plan to address the lack of housing, which includes funding to repair 143  NLHC units.

Twelve of those units are designated for western Newfoundland. Parsons described that as "insufficient," and said there have been dozens of units shuttered.

"We basically need more affordable housing for low- and middle-income residents. And you know, cities and towns don't have the resources to get this ball rolling," he said.

Parsons said there has been money from the federal and provincial governments, but municipalities don't know how to access it or use it. 

He said a few years ago Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation came to city hall with a plan to shutter or demolish the currently vacant Crestview Avenue units in the city with the idea of building new units. However, he said nothing came of it.

"So we can't just take these units out of the system and not replace them with something, especially when, I understand, the qualified requests for housing in this area are up more than 30 per cent."

Parsons said municipalities can do their part with land and other elements, but said the government and NLHC "have to step up here."

"They are the ones who have the expertise. And I think that, you know, it's not a matter of just, like, ponying up the money," he said. "I think it is a matter of just outreach and talking to municipalities and our partners [to] find better ways to build the types of housing we need."

Parsons said the issue of emergency shelters is tied to the lack of permanent housing, but they don't have a lot of data to draw on. Having people live in emergency shelters isn't a long-term solution, he added.

Parsons also pointed out the province recently issued a request for proposals for a minimum 30-bed low-barrier emergency shelter in the Corner Brook area.

He said city council has heard from social groups, like church organizations, that are reaching out to access emergency housing, and the need is becoming more pressing.

Roof over heads

Three weeks ago, a tent encampment was erected across from Confederation Building in St. John's as a protest against the lack of housing and to put a spotlight on homelessness.

There are also people in the Corner Brook area sleeping in tents, Parsons said. 

"I can't imagine living in our climate outside. There are always a number of unsheltered homeless around our city. We've all seen them and sometimes we don't," he said.

"Sometimes they're sheltered in the woods or up behind a building, you know. I've heard in church outbuildings and things like that."

Those situations aren't ideal and other support is necessary, he said. It's not just about people having a roof over their heads, he added. They might also need to access counselling, social work and other types of services.

Housing doesn't have a simple, one-size-fits-all solution, said Parsons, pointing out the needs are different for low-income residents and seniors, and there can also be addictions and mental health needs as well.

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