I understand that the homeless need a space to live and I fully support having a homeless centre in Richmond- but not beside a recreational facility for children. While not every homeless person suffers from metal illness or drug/alcohol problems a high percentage do. My daughter spends six hours a week at this gym. I'd like to be able to drop her off at her gymnastics class knowing she will be safe. In the summertime kids often eat their snacks outside on the grass. There could be needles or broken bottles laying around and homeless people coming and going. If a shelter is opened in this location I would take my business elsewhere (as I'm sure many other parents would) for the safety of my daughter and my own piece of mind. This would be unfair and devastation to Wayland Sports.
Here is a perfect example of how this is not ok
Port Coquitlam daycare says neighbouring homeless shelter jeopardizing kids’ safety https://globalnews.ca/news/2655484/port-coquitlam-daycare-says-neighbouring-homeless-shelter-jeopardizing-kids-safety/
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
The location of the shelter is not a good fit given my child attends class there. Please reconsider another location.
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
Hopefully most of the good people of Richmond will leave their inner fears behind if given a chance to learn more about the reasons and contexts to homelessness.
For those who don’t seem to care if they are heard speaking out against those experiencing homelessness, take a step back, learn more, and ask yourselves if you are right in opposing supports and services to people who are homeless in their communities.
People experiencing homelessness are already in your communities. They may not always be visible — perhaps they are couch-surfing or living in cars — but they are there.
These will be a small shelter with an emphasis on providing housing supports with more personal, individualized interaction and care.
Consider the moral and ethical ramifications of your opposition to ashelter in the neighbourhood. Substitute the word Chinese, or gay, or Jew for “homeless” in the sentence “I don’t want those homeless near me” and the point is clear.
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
More consultation needed.
J
Jane Lin
8 years ago
The City of Richmond should really have someone sit in the Wayland Sports Center some day and take a look for themselves how many young children and families come in and out of this center on a daily basis for their swimming and gymnastic training. While shelter is necessary for homeless, I would not recommend to simply set one beside a community facility with such a large population of young children every passing day. The City should investigate further and seriously reconsider to the location of this shelter to somewhere else.
Y
Ye Zhou
8 years ago
This is NOT about NIMBY; rather, this is about common sense.
Would anyone put a homeless shelter right next to a kindergarten or elementary school? The answer apparently will be NO. Wayland Sports Centre hosts lots of young children like a kindergarten or elementary school, day and night, week days and weekends. City should recognize this very fact and serious reconsider the decision.
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
I lived across the street from a shelter in Squamish for 5 years. Despite efforts of the staff and the municipality the local residents and businesses suffered. Despite the shelter having a curfew, there were people milling about day and night, police were called numerous times to deal with public incidences, and drug abuse and dealings occurred in and around the shelter. There should have been public consultation on this sooner. People (with kids or not) will not want to visit that area, businesses will suffer and families will be without excellent services and amenities. It doesn't seem COR has thought this one through. I agree with another commenter. Put the shelter at City Hall or near police station. I support the populations that need the services of a shelter, but COR needs to understand that unsafe and unhealthy activities occur around a shelter and impacts the surrounding environment and populations. COR will be putting families at risk by locating the shelter there.
S
Sheetal Raithatha
8 years ago
I am in FULL support of preventing the relocation of this homeless shelter to the proposed area next to Wayland Sports Children Sports centre. Absolutely unacceptable! Children's well being, growth and positive development COMES FIRST!
V
Valerie Toth
8 years ago
Featured
My son is not often at the Waylands sports Richmond but when he is I know is is safe. Now that the city is planning a homeless shelter right next door I am not as ease with that idea. A public hearing should have been held for all surrounding businesses. Not Cool City Counsil.
H
Henry So
8 years ago
The city should have consulted the public before making this move...
T
Taryne
8 years ago
This is not an area for a homeless shelter, just down the street there are private homes and a daycare. I feel also that the homeless will wander into our beautiful trails and leave drug paraphernalia and/or relocate there when the shelter is full. This is also not a great location as there are a lot of businesses and people will no longer feel safe in the area.
P
Praise Chow
8 years ago
Featured
It is important to have shelters for the homeless however I am wondering why the city would consider an industrial area near the highway a place for those who had no cars to get around. Also it will be next to a children's gymnastic and swimming arena which I feel would be putting our children at risk for potential personal harm. Pls reconsider your plan
J
JAN DE DECKER
8 years ago
There's nothing wrong creating a shelter for the homeless but there should be other places more suitable than next to Wayland Sports.
M
My Co
8 years ago
It is also not zoned for residential.
K
Kylen Y
8 years ago
Please think of the safety for kids, and relocate the shelter.
C
Chaoming
8 years ago
This homeless sheltering should not be implemented!
A
Annie
8 years ago
There are kids here all the time. Is the City of Richmond going to guarantee on their safety?
A
Anonymous
8 years ago
Sears in empty. Put the beds in sears , right next to city hall instead of next to child facilities is way better.
T
Tak Kin Lai
8 years ago
Not safe for the kids. Put it beside City Hall or the police station.
M
Michael Sun
8 years ago
My children are very scared will be a homeless shelter beside Wayland sports.They are 9 and 14 years old,they are swim here more than 3 years.Please find another site where far away with children to set up the homeless!
I understand that the homeless need a space to live and I fully support having a homeless centre in Richmond- but not beside a recreational facility for children. While not every homeless person suffers from metal illness or drug/alcohol problems a high percentage do. My daughter spends six hours a week at this gym. I'd like to be able to drop her off at her gymnastics class knowing she will be safe. In the summertime kids often eat their snacks outside on the grass. There could be needles or broken bottles laying around and homeless people coming and going. If a shelter is opened in this location I would take my business elsewhere (as I'm sure many other parents would) for the safety of my daughter and my own piece of mind. This would be unfair and devastation to Wayland Sports. Here is a perfect example of how this is not ok Port Coquitlam daycare says neighbouring homeless shelter jeopardizing kids’ safety https://globalnews.ca/news/2655484/port-coquitlam-daycare-says-neighbouring-homeless-shelter-jeopardizing-kids-safety/
The location of the shelter is not a good fit given my child attends class there. Please reconsider another location.
Hopefully most of the good people of Richmond will leave their inner fears behind if given a chance to learn more about the reasons and contexts to homelessness. For those who don’t seem to care if they are heard speaking out against those experiencing homelessness, take a step back, learn more, and ask yourselves if you are right in opposing supports and services to people who are homeless in their communities. People experiencing homelessness are already in your communities. They may not always be visible — perhaps they are couch-surfing or living in cars — but they are there. These will be a small shelter with an emphasis on providing housing supports with more personal, individualized interaction and care. Consider the moral and ethical ramifications of your opposition to ashelter in the neighbourhood. Substitute the word Chinese, or gay, or Jew for “homeless” in the sentence “I don’t want those homeless near me” and the point is clear.
More consultation needed.
The City of Richmond should really have someone sit in the Wayland Sports Center some day and take a look for themselves how many young children and families come in and out of this center on a daily basis for their swimming and gymnastic training. While shelter is necessary for homeless, I would not recommend to simply set one beside a community facility with such a large population of young children every passing day. The City should investigate further and seriously reconsider to the location of this shelter to somewhere else.
This is NOT about NIMBY; rather, this is about common sense. Would anyone put a homeless shelter right next to a kindergarten or elementary school? The answer apparently will be NO. Wayland Sports Centre hosts lots of young children like a kindergarten or elementary school, day and night, week days and weekends. City should recognize this very fact and serious reconsider the decision.
I lived across the street from a shelter in Squamish for 5 years. Despite efforts of the staff and the municipality the local residents and businesses suffered. Despite the shelter having a curfew, there were people milling about day and night, police were called numerous times to deal with public incidences, and drug abuse and dealings occurred in and around the shelter. There should have been public consultation on this sooner. People (with kids or not) will not want to visit that area, businesses will suffer and families will be without excellent services and amenities. It doesn't seem COR has thought this one through. I agree with another commenter. Put the shelter at City Hall or near police station. I support the populations that need the services of a shelter, but COR needs to understand that unsafe and unhealthy activities occur around a shelter and impacts the surrounding environment and populations. COR will be putting families at risk by locating the shelter there.
I am in FULL support of preventing the relocation of this homeless shelter to the proposed area next to Wayland Sports Children Sports centre. Absolutely unacceptable! Children's well being, growth and positive development COMES FIRST!
My son is not often at the Waylands sports Richmond but when he is I know is is safe. Now that the city is planning a homeless shelter right next door I am not as ease with that idea. A public hearing should have been held for all surrounding businesses. Not Cool City Counsil.
The city should have consulted the public before making this move...
This is not an area for a homeless shelter, just down the street there are private homes and a daycare. I feel also that the homeless will wander into our beautiful trails and leave drug paraphernalia and/or relocate there when the shelter is full. This is also not a great location as there are a lot of businesses and people will no longer feel safe in the area.
It is important to have shelters for the homeless however I am wondering why the city would consider an industrial area near the highway a place for those who had no cars to get around. Also it will be next to a children's gymnastic and swimming arena which I feel would be putting our children at risk for potential personal harm. Pls reconsider your plan
There's nothing wrong creating a shelter for the homeless but there should be other places more suitable than next to Wayland Sports.
It is also not zoned for residential.
Please think of the safety for kids, and relocate the shelter.
This homeless sheltering should not be implemented!
There are kids here all the time. Is the City of Richmond going to guarantee on their safety?
Sears in empty. Put the beds in sears , right next to city hall instead of next to child facilities is way better.
Not safe for the kids. Put it beside City Hall or the police station.
My children are very scared will be a homeless shelter beside Wayland sports.They are 9 and 14 years old,they are swim here more than 3 years.Please find another site where far away with children to set up the homeless!