Coquitlam RCMP and operators of the 3030 Gordon Avenue homeless shelter in Coquitlam say complaints about tenants, garbage and needles have declined since the shelter opened eight months ago.
But one nearby resident said his family has been scared by the appearance and behaviour of some of the tenants from 3030 Gordon, a shelter and transition housing project funded by BC Housing on city of Coquitlam land near Lougheed Highway and Westwood Street.
In an email to The Tri-City News, Michael Anderson said he was approached by someone who was obviously high on drugs and is worried that concentrating addicts in the neighbourhood will result in an increase in violent crime.
"What I would like to see done is that the centre adopt and publicize a zero-tolerance policy for theft, intoxication and substance abuse, and that the clients understand they are not to impose themselves on passers-by, on pain of ejection from the facility," Anderson stated.
Operational since December of 2015, the shelter and transition housing project has supported 124 homeless people, a majority of them Tri-City residents. But staff said complaints have declined since the opening because many issues were dealt with by a community advisory committee that meets monthly, and by the Coquitlam RCMP, which is a member of the committee and visits the shelter daily.
Sean Spear, associate director with operator RainCity Housing, said the majority of complaints were about one or two individuals with severe mental health concerns and while garbage and needles have been an issue the introduction of daily cleanups have ensured that drug paraphernalia and refuse aren't left in the neighbourhood.
"The clean up we are doing is a contribution to the community," Spear said, noting that plans are in the works to expand the clean up if funding is available.
NO SPIKE
Meanwhile, Coquitlam RCMP said there hasn't been a noticeable spike in crime since the shelter opened. However, spokesman Const. Jamie Phillipson said there were problems initially, with local businesses upset about people loitering and crossing through their property.
"The continuous message from us in the RCMP is we'd like to be that first call. If there is something happening in your neighbourhood that is negatively effecting your area or business, we would like to be that first call that you make."
And while some of the problems have been the result of growing pains, Phillipson said the police crime reduction unit takes seriously its role in combatting crime and visits the centre daily. If there is someone who has been banned, the police are there to make sure there is no retaliation.
"We're in this for the long haul. We're not going to be reducing our visibility in the area anytime soon."
CALL US
Still some are concerned about drug use in the area. The Coquitlam homeless shelter does allow people with addictions to move in but Spear said that's the most humane approach because people are then connected with services and get help with medications while leaving them to live on the street just pushes the problem somewhere else. In fact 39 people were connected to rehabilitation and detox services so far this year.
The shelter also has to abide by a city-mandated Good Neighbour policy and tenants are encouraged to be respectful of neighbours. As for drug use, it's not allowed in the open and people can be banned if they do not comply.
Spear also asked people to call the facility if they have a problems.
"We're really adamant: phone us, phone us," he said.
The shelter is open 24 hours, and the phone number is 604-474-0435.
