Windsor's mayor is exploring the idea of a new shelter to deal with the growing number of homeless people in the city.
Speaking on AM800's the Morning Drive, Mayor Drew Dilkens says the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some complicated issues as it relates to the city's homeless population and says he's looking into the best possible structure for the shelter, with services to help people get off the streets and become productive members of society.
“As far as the discussion I'm having with city councillors, that we need to look at a pathway forward that sets us on a road for success because so much that I’m talking about when it comes to economic development, can't be accomplished unless we don't tackle the root problem that exists in the community," says Dilkens.
He says the city would not be the operator of the facility, but would help set out the platform to be most effective in handling the issue.
“I don't want to be the operator of the shelter,” says Dilkens. “But the system that needs to be set up, the best practice that has shown out there, the most successful shelter systems are ones that wrap themselves in appropriate services to help the people who are experiencing homeless."
Dilkens is estimating it would cost anywhere between $10-million and $20-million, but he doesn't want to see it downtown.
“Just one that needs to be improved if we have any hope of trying to reboot our downtown or to do some other economic development things, I don't think the city should be the operator, in fact I think the city would be the high cost provider."
Executive Director of the Downtown Mission Ron Dunn told listeners on AM800's the Dan MacDonald Show, that he likes the idea, but disagrees with Mayor Dilkens on a facility being near the city core.
"I think you have to go where people are, that doesn't mean Ouellette Ave.” says Dunn. “We are open to the idea, we do have interested ideas who want to buy that property if we can find a home somewhere else."
Dilkens points out that in addition to the Downtown Mission, there are the Salvation Army and Welcome Centre that provide shelter services for the homelessness.
He says a Request for Proposal would be issued on the shelter, when the time comes.