Cathedral Shelter

Join us for the 2nd virtual community meeting where City staff and community partners will provide an overview of the transition, and new operation of this location as a gender-specific emergency shelter for women, trans-feminine, trans-masculine and non-binary adults on a temporary basis.

This public meeting will allow Good Shepherd Centre to update and hear from the community on the transition, operational updates, COVID safety measures that are in place for everyone’s protection, and further community updates on the next steps for this location.

Virtual Community Meeting

Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
Time: 6:30 to 8 pm
Register your attendance. Once registered for this event you will be sent a link for the online meeting.

To submit questions in advance, email us at housing@hamilton.ca

On December 6, 2021 the Housing Services Division hosted a public meeting with a question and answer portion about the temporary emergency shelter located at the old Cathedral School location.

Questions & Answers

Questions asked by the over 50 community members who registered and attended the online meeting by webex or via the call in feature.

Why did the City plan for a public meeting so close to the recommendation report going to Emergency and Community Services Committee on Dec 9th?
Through out the pandemic Housing Services has worked to communicate with stakeholders and community members about issues that impact their community. The recommendation to continue operating Cathedral Shelter as a temporary shelter could not be communicated publicly before the report was posted on the City’s website as per the City’s governance model.

Since the opening of the temporary Cathedral shelter location feedback has been sent by community members to the City through ward Councillor Nann’s office, directly to staff, and through Good Shepherd. Did the City consider this feedback as part of their recommendation process?
Since the opening of the temporary shelter location City staff has received community feedback. Changes to the operation of the shelter have evolved over this time and staff continue to take into consideration the feedback from neighbourhood stakeholders. Community feedback was one of many factors considered into this recommendation.

How did the City promote the December 6th public meeting, and why were the timelines so short?
Housing Services wished to hold a public meeting on this important recommendation report but was not able to provide any public details on the topic until the report become public as per the City’s governance model. Given this, the City did not want to confuse public perceptions of the shelter without the ability to clarify what the meeting would be about in a reasonable amount of time. Based on this understanding the City did not publicly post about the planned meeting until mid November.

Housing Services promoted the public meeting through existing neighbourhood email contacts, via the City’s website and with a community flyer drop.

Was the public meeting well attended and can I view a recording of the meeting? How did the City try to accommodate those with difficulties attending virtual meetings?
The public meeting had over 50 individuals attend who registered through the Eventbrite online meeting organization platform. The City hosted the event on our Webex platform. The webex platform allowed for those who could not attend the meeting by virtual attendance to call in and listen to the meeting. The online meeting was not recorded staying with the practice of how public meetings were conducted pre COVID. City staff did record questions provided and have committed to creating this Q and A document that address the questions raised at the meeting.

Information for a call in option was distributed through the online portal. The City recognizes the challenges some residents may face with virtual engagement platforms. We continue to work to improve the engagement options that are impacted by the pandemic response.

Did the City purposely promote the meeting with short notice, and through a virtual platform the minimize resident voices?
No, the City encourages robust public feedback on all matters. The Housing Services Division understand the importance of public dialogue on programs, and infrastructure that supports the meaningful work of affordable housing and the homelessness serving system. The Webex platform used for this meeting is the corporate platform used by the City of Hamilton. Notice for the meeting was done in as comprehensive manner as time allowed.

Is it ethical the way this recommendation process has been handled, which has led to a perception of secrecy?
Yes, the City and partners have tried to approach this process and decision in an ethical and transparent manner. We understand the concerns around timelines expressed by the community and understand that some may view our discretion as secrecy. It was a decision based on the evolving needs of the housing system that have changed significantly through the pandemic.

Has a decision already been made and the meeting on Dec 9 is simply a formality?
No, while the staff recommendation has been made the authority to approve this recommendation rests with the Emergency and Community Services Committee and ultimately City Council. At the Dec 9th, ECS meeting Committee did approve the recommendation.

Does the City have the legal authority with Good Shephard to continue to operate an emergency shelter at the old Cathedral High School location?
Yes, under the emergency order provision the City has the legal authority to open and operate this temporary emergency shelter location.

Were the issues of poverty, crime, and the community impact of the extension of the temporary shelter at this location on the neighbourhood considered as part of the recommendation?
For the staff recommendation to Council several factors were considered. These factors included Stinson and Landsdowne specific community concerns but also the physical space realities of alternatively available spaces and other operational considerations.

In partnership with the Good Shephard the City is committed to continuing to address any neighbourhood impacts caused by the operation of this temporary shelter location. The City will be hosting another public meeting in the first quarter of 2022 where issues can be addressed.

Were other locations/options consider?
A number of options were initially considered which evaluated matters such as location, access, availability, size and staffing model. The ability to staff and operate Cathedral in a short timeframe as well as other advantages resulted in the decision.

During the pandemic in Nov 2020 Good Shepherd made a submission entitled Women’s Shelter & Support Investment Option to the Housing Service’s RFP Process and was successfully funded. Does this RFP mean that this location will become permanent?
The City issued an RFP for Federal homelessness funding in Nov 2020. This RFP was for system related solutions and provides funding over multiple years. This proposal will not create a permanent shelter at Cathedral, this funding will be part of the solution that helps eventually close this temporary shelter. Housing Services is not aware of proposals previously submitted related to shelter operations at this site.

This was to be a temporary shelter, the timeline for close this location has now been extended and part of the cause is the ongoing pandemic. How will the City close this temporary shelter if the pandemic restrictions continue?
The City’s on going work to end homelessness in Hamilton and create more affordable housing solutions has been impacted by Covid. Over the last 2 years the Housing Services division has worked to adapt plans and timelines to work within a range of pandemic response scenarios. Investments such as the 2020 request for proposal process are part of the range of solutions being implemented to transform the system. These transformations will provide the increased capacity needed within the affordable housing spectrum that will allow the outflow from the system needed to close the temporary emergency shelter located at the former Cathedral school site.

I believe it is imperative to spread facilities across all of Hamilton and not just concentrate them in the downtown core. When will the current residents be relocated and to where?
The homelessness serving system has had pressures for many years. These pressures were exacerbated by the global pandemic and Housing Services with the support of many established service providers to significantly expand the shelter bed capacity. This expanded capacity continues today and men from this location will be accommodated within the men’s serving system, including the currently expanded capacity within the hotel system.

Please also talk about the City’s long term Plan to create stable, affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness?
The City’s current housing and homelessness strategy can be found at https://www.hamilton.ca/city-initiatives/strategies-actions/housing-homelessness-action-plan

The City is clearing encampments without adequate shelter space for people. Emergency shelters are no long term solutions What is the City’s plan?
The City continues to work to address encampments. Part of this solution continues to be the exemplary work of the street outreach team who works to engage those in encampments and work towards a supportive solution. It is recognized that safe, accessible permanent supportive housing is the solution required to address homelessness.

What services will be available for both community use and for the shelter residents to ensure fewer problems during the day? Can the community have input on these?
Supports for residents will be provided within the building in order to address their health and housing needs. There will not be community space available to the public within the building.

What is the City’s Plan for medium and long term future for this building? The community would like input on long term plans.
The City does not have plans to utilize this site as an emergency shelter location post pandemic and any long term uses for the building would be subject to standard City planning practices.

What are the plans for ongoing community involvement in the future of Cathedral — for example, will there be positions on a board or advisory committee for neighbourhood residents?
There is not currently a unique advisory committee for neighbourhood residents related to Cathedral shelter, but it is recommended that interested residents remain involved through the Stinson community association, or with direct contact to Ward 3 Councillor Nann. Residents are also welcome to contact Good Shephard directly with any concerns.

How can you possibly safely house 100 people in a COVID safe way?
Good Shephard Centres has a long track record of operating large shelter spaces and will continue to implement a best practices approach to best serve the clients needs while also balancing the impacts on the community.

Through best practices approaches as provided by Public Health’s direction the Good Shephard Centres have been operating with enhanced IPAC measures and will continue to evolve and implement these recommend and mandatory approaches. Through this approach we are confident a 100 person shelter can be operated in a safe manner for clients, staff, and the community at the Cathedral Shelter.

Why is this number so high and why City Hall decided to shelter 100 persons in one single building & in one single neighborhood?
The 80-100 capacity expansion of the Cathedral location is a maximum occupancy for this temporary emergency shelter location. With transitioning this location from the men’s to women’s system the focus is on maximizing the Cathedral location to best accommodate pressures in the shelter system. The 100 person maximum was concluded after careful consideration of the physical layout of the Cathedral location and also the impact on the surrounding community.

How is the City adapting the emergency shelter system with the reality of COVID?
Housing Services and community partners continue to plan for a variety of scenarios including the ongoing pandemic, a return to normal services, and many alternative scenarios. Housing Services continues to adapt to the changing situation and will respond to any changes faced within the system to do changes in the global pandemic.

46 West Ave is a location already run by Good Shephard, will it be housing any residents of the current Cathedral shelter location?
The use of 46 West Ave remains fluid as we consider how best to use it as part of the emergency pandemic response. To date it has been utilized as both overflow for families entering the shelter system as well as isolation use for those that have tested positive (each use at separate times).

Is there a plan to transition from this "temporary" location to a more permanent solution given the realities that COVID isn't going away?
Yes, there will be a transition to a more permanent location. The system plan does not include a permanent emergency shelter at this location. Long term systems planning is on going

Has there been any indication from Federal or Provincial Govt to invest in permanent, suitable housing solutions?
The City regularly advocates for upper level government investment in the homelessness serving system and affordable housing. During the pandemic the Federal and Provincial governments have support various funding programs including Rapid Housing Initiatives, and Covid support funding that has contributed to the City’s response. The City of Hamilton continues to encourage these investments to support much needed solutions to our local housing crisis.

The Federal government plan can be found at https://www.placetocallhome.ca/

What can we as residents do to support the residents in the site. Are there items of need? How can we best engage to make sure this is as successful as it can be for the community and shelter residents?
Residents around the temporary Cathedral shelter location are encouraged to contact Good Shephard directly around ways to donate and support the residents at this site. Furthermore residents are welcome to engage Good Shephard around ways to support the residents. Lastly the City of course encourages all neighbourhood residents to approach each other in a welcoming and supportive manner.

Will be the community members be barred from visiting the shelter?
When the temporary shelter was first established community members were invited to visit the site prior to opening to better understand what a temporary shelter would look like. With the transition of the service from the men’s system to the women’s system there will not be the ability to again extend this opportunity. Community members who find themselves in need of utilizing the services of an emergency shelter are welcome to connect with the Good Shephard Centre, but due to Covid protocols and to respect those experiencing homelessness and currently accessing the supports available through the Good Shephard Centres no visits or tours will be available of the facility at this time.

Will Good Shephard increase to 24/7 the security patrols? Will the security increase to a 4 block radius around the temporary shelter location?
Enhanced security has been contemplated for the site however details of this are still being finalized.

Will the City host another public meeting on this temporary shelter location?
Housing Services will be promoting and hosting another public meeting in the first quarter of 2022 on the transition of this location from a men’s system emergency shelter to a shelter serving the women’s, trans, and non-binary community.

This meeting on the temporary Cathedral shelter location will be planned by City staff with every attempt made to provide a reasonable amount of notice and to utilize a diverse range of communication methods.