Temporary Shelter Village initiative site location to be rexamined by council

The Hillyard Site has been selected to host Thunder Bay’s temporary shelter village initiative, but a member of city council would like to see other options investigated.

The site located next to 8th Avenue, near Central Avenue, was selected in July.

Red River Ward Councillor Michael Zussino is proposing a new direction at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

He is looking for city council to rescind the decision to confirm the location, and would like to see other host sites investigated.

“So anytime a member of council has the option to bring forward a notice of motion to change direction, to change course, they can bring a notice of motion to rescind or to amend a decision,” explained the Director of Legislative Services and City Clerk, Krista Power.

“He’s bringing it forward in three parts. The first part is to suspend the rules.”

Normally, a notice of motion requires a presentation at a meeting, followed by no debate or discussion until a later council meeting.

“He’s asking to essentially override that provision to wait the two weeks and make the decision the same night, which is in the same vein of what counsellor Etreni did on a previous notice of motion on this file. So that’s the first piece, is that they will vote and need 9 votes to suspend the rules. If that passes, they will then go to the notice of motion to rescind.”

If councillors opt not to suspend the rules, then the notice of motion to rescind will simply move forward to be debated at the September 16th meeting.

“If it passes and they debate it and they decide to rescind, then they would go to decision point three, which is to refer the matter back to administration, to look for an additional site,” added Power. “If they rescind as per Councillor Zussino’s motion, they are rescinding Hilliard.”

The decision would also eliminate additional sites previously looked at, including Cumberland, Miles St. and Kam River Park from being rebated at a later point.

“I am bringing forward this Notice of Motion to Rescind to allow City Council an opportunity to consider a change in course as it relates to our response to supporting people who are currently unhoused in our city and those that are impacted,” said Red River Ward Councillor Michael Zussino. “While a temporary village may be the best path forward, it is my position that Hillyard may not be the best location for this project.”

If council passes debating the item on Tuesday, but chooses not to pursue a new location, then the status quo will remain and the city will move forward with the Hillyard Site.

More than 100 of Thunder Bay’s Intercity businesses and healthcare facilities, known as the Intercity Business Collective (IBC), are asking the city to reassess the Hillyard Site.

The group backs Councillor Zussino’s motion to rescind approval of the location.

“Placing vulnerable individuals in a facility without integrated medical, mental health, and addiction support is concerning,” says an IBC spokesperson. “This approach could lead to worsening health outcomes, increased strain on emergency services, and unsafe conditions for both residents and the surrounding community.

“A coordinated healthcare model is essential to ensure this project truly helps the people it’s meant to serve.”