Province applying to keep shelter, outreach centre on Park Street open longer

The province says it will be applying to keep its emergency shelter and outreach centre on Park Street in Charlottetown open for a little longer.

A temporary agreement with the city of Charlottetown has allowed the shelter to be open since December 2023, while the outreach centre opened in March 2024. Without an extension, both will close one year from their opening.

"We have a bit of breathing room right now, but we need time to plan for the future and how we manage homelessness and various issues around homelessness," said Housing, Land and Communities Minister Rob Lantz, whose department recently sent letters to residents in the area.

He said it wouldn't be possible to find another location by the time those agreements expire.

Lantz didn't specify how long the extension request would be for.

Lantz, who is in Calgary to learn more about how that city tackles its homelessness problem, said he doesn't want the services to stay on Park Street forever.

"My long-term vision for this site is not a permanent facility, not in the form it operates right now," he said. "My vision is to see these types of services spread more evenly around the city."

The minister's letter said he knows lots of people are going to be disappointed, but an increasing number of people need the services.

"The ideal situation would be that emergency shelters and types of services that are offered at the outreach centre are not required, but I don't see that in the foreseeable future and it's probably not realistic in this world we live in, so we need to deal with it," said Lantz.

'It has to be somewhere'

CBC News spoke to several residents who live on Park and Beach streets.

Some who've lived near Park Street for decades say similar problems like trespassing and finding needles on the ground are now happening near the new site, and say it's not the same neighbourhood it used to be. 

Some want the services moved somewhere else, while others say they hardly notice the shelter or the outreach centre  and have few worries about them staying. 

"I'm OK with it. I mean, these poor folks, they need a place to stay too, right?" said Brent MacRae, who lives on Beach Street.

"I think they're trying. Like I said, nobody really wants it in their backyard and I wouldn't pretend that I'm any different. And I don't really have a reason for it, I don't know, but that's just the truth. But it has to be somewhere, so I guess it's here for now and if it's here for now and they continue to work with us, I think it will work out."

MacRae said foot traffic through his yard and street have decreased since fencing went up around the complex earlier this year.

Another Beach Street resident, Sheena Gellatly, agrees.

"It's been very quiet and I understand that there's a need for it and it has to be somewhere," she said. "I don't think anybody particularly wants it in their backyard, but it has to be somewhere. And I understand that there's a great need for it."

No date set for decision

Lantz said there have been fewer incidents since the outreach centre relocated from Euston Street, and while the province is requesting an extension the decision is ultimately up to Charlottetown council.

In an emailed statement, a city spokesperson said the province has not made any formal request. The email said the process still needs finalizing, which could take several more weeks.

"There is also not a date set to go to Council yet as that date will is dependent on the formal request being submitted," it said.

Lantz said he expects there will be a public meeting so that residents can provide feedback.