City council has forbidden the use of new federal funding to operate resting spaces for homeless Londoners if they’re located on the main street of a Business Improvement Area (BIA). The decision has potentially put 30 overnight beds in jeopardy. On Thursday, CTV News spoke with 42-year-old Jess, who visits Ark Aid Street Mission on Dundas Street each morning to get her name on a list for one of those resting spaces.
“I really like it here,” she said while clutching a stuffed animal close to her face,” I...
I have nowhere else to go.” She began to sob. Earlier this week a motion by Councillor Susan Stevenson was supported by the majority of council that any new resting spaces receiving funds from the upcoming $250 million federal encampment program, “not be located on the main street of any Business Improvement Area (BIA).
” A statement from Civic Administration reads, “This would include daytime and overnight resting spaces such as the CMHA Coffee House on Hamilton Road (Council approved continuing funding through May of 2025) and The Ark on Dundas Street (Council has approved funding through to end of December 2024).” “It's too early for me to say if I can fundraise enough money or how we would continue to operate night-time space,” explained Sarah Campbell, Executive Director of Ark Aid Street Mission. “But I do know that we will be here in whatever scale and capacity our organization is able to offer to the people from the streets of London.
” Sara.
