Council debates report related to unsheltered homeless

PRINCE GEORGE — While it was a report on the consent agenda, it generated a great deal of discussion.

The report reads:

“To date, $236,000 has been allocated annually to operate two storage service sites for the unsheltered homeless. Together the two sites offered a total of 102 storage bins. A recent relocation and renovation has enabled one site to grow its capacity from 66 storage bins to 100. The renovation also enabled the addition of washrooms, showers, a large drop-in space, laundry services, computer access, and private client meeting space (with necessary surveillance to ensure safety) for onsite support staff, itinerant mental health workers, and the City’s Outreach Coordinators. This means that a streamlined model of operation, with equivalent access to storage services, can now be managed through one funded site. As such, Administration has reallocated $138,000 of the $236,000 envelope for “social inclusion” to enable the continued employment of the City’s two Outreach Coordinators.”