THUNDER BAY – City staff have provided council with an update on the temporary shelter village, which included a video testimonial from a resident living at the site.
In October, Newswatch sent a request for an interview with a village resident. That request was denied.
“We are not facilitating resident interviews or media visits to the site. Out of respect for residents’ privacy, we would also ask members of the media not to seek out or approach residents directly,” Michelle Williams, the city’s communication manager, told Newswatch in an email statement on Oct. 20.
However, during a presentation updating city council on the progress of the temporary shelter village on Tuesday, council members were shown a video from one resident, whom the video only refers to as David.
Rilee Willianen, city supervisor of encampment response, said the village’s operator filmed and edited the video.
It shares the story of David. The video was filmed on Nov. 4, and it reflects on David’s first few weeks in the village.
David provides some background on what it was like living in a tent, the lack of showers, and surviving on pizza and sandwiches.
“Eventually you kind of get tired of the sandwiches, but it is what it is. You learn to survive the best you can,” he said.
Now living inside the village, David is thankful to have a warm place to live, which he says is a big thing.
He also says it’s nice to have a locked door and space for his dog.
“To be able to lock your door at night and not worry about somebody coming into the tent while you’re gone or with my dog, worrying that somebody’s going to come by if nobody’s around the camp, either take him or think that he’s not being looked after. And now at least I have a place where he can just be in his own little area. I don’t have to worry about somebody coming in if they hear him barking or just taking him away from me because he’s been my companion. He’s my best friend,” David said.
As for resources in the village, David says he is currently working on getting into the Ontario Disability Support Program.
“Once I get that, then working more towards getting my own place,” he said.
Willianen said the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board transitional outreach support workers visit the village regularly to help residents with housing applications.
When asked what he would like to tell council about the village, David said the people are friendly.
“Not just the staff, but the people that you meet just walking around or in the common area. People are so friendly. It’s refreshing not to have to worry about who they are, are they going to try and take something from you. So, I would have to say it’s the friendliness of the people here,” David said.
As of Nov. 9, 35 residents are living at the shelter village site, which Willianen says places “the village on track to meet and possibly surpass the target of 40 residents by the end of November.”
Coun. Dominic Pasqualino and Coun. Mark Bentz asked for a status update on the 40 remaining unavailable units.
Willianen says those 40 units are waiting for the delivery of the units’ alert system, which is expected to arrive by the end of the week. Without them, those units will not pass the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) inspection.
“We were advised this week that they’re anticipated to arrive at the end of the week. Once those are received, then the contractor will install them, and then ESA will be called, and then the inspection will happen. It’s difficult to give you a firm timeline, but it’s certainly expected to be before the end of the month,” she said.
