City pulling plug on newcomer reception centres
Memo says Sprung structures not needed as shelter demand from newcomers falls
Citing a decrease in demand from newcomers in the shelter system, the City of Ottawa is cancelling plans to set up tent-like reception centres to house asylum seekers.
The city had planned to open one or possibly two newcomer reception centres, the first near the Nepean Sportsplex and a second in Kanata should the need arise.
The plan was meant to respond to a massive influx of unhoused refugee claimants, forcing the city to shelter people in municipal recreation centres.
The newcomer reception centres would have relied on tent-like facilities known as Sprung structures, after a leading company that manufactures them.
The plan prompted opposition from some residents who worried that the structures would become permanent shelters. Those emotions boiled over during a confrontational public information session at the Nepean Sportsplex in December.
But on Wednesday, the city sent a memo to councillors and media explaining that the reception centres are no longer needed. At the peak, about 1,000 asylum claimants were in the shelter system. That number has now dropped to 820 newcomers, the city said.
"As a result of decreasing demand and new opportunities outlined in this memo, staff are adjusting the infrastructure requirements in the newcomer reception proposal that is being negotiated with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)," it said.
Mayor, community reacts
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe supports the decision, saying he was "happy" and "relieved" to move on from an issue that had become politicized.
"Our focus can simply be providing the right resources to welcome people to our community, who are going to be contributors and future leaders in our city, then I'm happy about that," he said.
Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley acknowledged he wasn't surprised by the decision, given the controversy. But he said the need for emergency accommodation remains high.
"We need to find solutions," he said. "So we're going to trust the city is going to get on this."
Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine said he supports welcoming newcomers, but had questions about the route the city was taking.
"At the very least, I'm glad that the city is moving in a direction that will offer some more solid, permanent solutions to newcomers," he said, adding that at the same time he knew it would be a "relief" for some residents in the neighbourhood.
New options arose
The memo explained that there are new options that can house migrants. It noted that the YMCA is no longer pursuing the sale of one of its buildings that is being used for newcomers, and the city is working to convert two unused floors to house more.
Trevor McAlmont, president and CEO of the YMCA National Capital Region, said the organization is eager to help.
"The data shows that the housing and homelessness issue has not subsided, it's actually gotten worse, and partners like the YMCA, we're here and ready to do whatever we can to address this," he said.
The city is also working with the federal government to extend its use of a building on Lanark Avenue that Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg residents recently voted against buying.
Moreover, the city noted that preliminary work on the newcomer reception centres showed that it would take longer than expected to build and open them. That stemmed in part from the need to launch a competitive procurement process.
"As such, the revised timeline for the construction of these structures facilitates staff's ability to pursue other opportunities to meet the need within a similar timeline," the memo said.
"These new opportunities, paired with demand trending downwards, will eliminate the need to develop the newcomer reception centres at 1645 Woodroffe Avenue and 40 Hearst Way."
"We've restrategized in terms of other sites available," said Kale Brown, the city's interim director of housing and homeless services, told CBC.
The city had initially signalled its intention to award a contract to Toronto-based BLT construction, prompting opposition from the local construction industry, as well as questions and concern from Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine. After local companies showed that they were also qualified, the city opened up the process.
The memo said it won't be possible to move all newcomers out of community shelters right away, and an "overflow" site or sites may still be required next winter.
It said other elements of the city's newcomer response plan, separate from the Sprung structures, will continue, including a building at 1754 St. Joseph Ave. and acquiring scattered buildings to house newcomers.
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With files from Emma Weller, David Fraser and Nathan Fung