Consultant recommends integrated homelessness hub in downtown North Bay

A consultant's report recommending a 24-hour, seven day a week homelessness hub for downtown North Bay is being met with some scepticism by the chair of the Nipissing District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB).

The report, commissioned last fall, details an integrated low-barrier shelter and homeless hub to help high-needs people obtain permanent housing.

The study also included details of the costs and resources required for planning, implementation, and operation, as well as recommendations on how to sustain funding for operations.

In its report, Vink Consulting describes the hub "as a central point for co-ordinated, comprehensive services ranging from basic needs to intensive support services." 

It estimates such a facility would cost $2.67 million to operate annually.

The board also received a review of the homelessness system in the Nipissing district to identify gaps, cultural equity, barriers, and opportunities. 

The DSSAB covers 11 municipalities, two First Nations and two unincorporated areas 

King says he was surprised at the consultant's recommendation for a homelessness hub because North Bay already has something similar.

"We've gone through a substantial effort, and it has taken four years, to establish Northern Pines which is a low-barrier shelter along with transitional housing on the same property. So I wasn't overly happy with the report to be honest with you," he said.

King says he was not the only one caught by surprise.

"I think the board was surprised at the response from the consultant because I did hear back from other board members questioning whether or not that was the right direction to go in," he said.

He said he doesn't think there's support for the financial case for another hub.

Northern Pines is a complex of 60 transitional and supportive housing units that also incorporates the shelter.

New hub proposed to be located within two to three blocks of downtown core

The main difference with the new recommendation, he said, is location, with a hub being proposed within a two to three block radius of the downtown while Northern Pines is about six blocks away. 

The report indicates that people don't always know where the services are located and Northern Pines is a fair distance.

King says he does support the idea that there needs to be something downtown to direct people to the places they need to get help.

"This was the other part of the report I think that was important to recognize was that we can't underestimate the value of outreach workers that are actually on the street speaking to individuals that are homeless, explaining to them where the supports are and how they can get out of the weather," he said.

Meantime, King says it's clear that the existing shelter isn't big enough, saying it provides beds for 16 people but often turns away a dozen more.

As for the rest of the district, King says there is troubling data about the number of people living in dwellings considered unsuitable, inadequate or unaffordable and who are at risk of homelessness.

According to 2021 census data, 3,590 people across the district met that definition, with more than 200 of them living in Mattawa.

As of Sept. 29, 2023, it went on to say, there were 32 individuals identified as living rough (on the street or in the bush) and receiving outreach support across the district, including Mattawa and Sturgeon Falls.

Anecdotally, King believes that number has grown.

I  lose sleep over it.- Mark King, Nipissing DSSAB chair on homelessness

While he says everyone knows more affordable housing is the answer, he doesn't put much stock in recent government announcements meant to incentivize housing projects.

King, who is also a North Bay councillor, said he gets calls about people being concerned about what's going on on their streets but feels frustrated and pessimistic at a lack of funding.

"Nothing has come forward to circumvent that issue and it will get worse, without question, just based on the economic circumstance we're in," he said.

King said even if funding was in place right now for housing projects, it would take two years to complete construction.

He says there are no current plans in place.

"I lose sleep over it," he said.