Tent city protesters don't want to go into shelters. These complaints we obtained explain why
There is no minimum standard for shelters in N.L., but a consultant has been hired to change that
A litany of health and safety concerns have been flagged to the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation about for-profit shelters over the last year, but the provincial government is still funnelling millions to private operators to handle the homelessness crisis despite previous pledges to move away from them.
Conditions inside private shelters have been a linchpin issue for a group of homeless protesters sleeping in tents across from the provincial legislature. They've complained that the buildings are unclean, unsafe and unacceptable.
CBC News has obtained through access to information dozens of complaints documented at the housing corporation about for-profit private shelters. They range from a lack of food, to violence, uncleanliness and the unwanted solicitation of female clients.
There is no minimum standard for conditions in private accommodations. The provincial government, however, says change is on the horizon and has contracted a company to establish a set of shelter standards.
Though names and addresses are redacted, it's clear the complaints come from both community partners and clients themselves. Information identifying the shelter operator is also blacked out.
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Last September, a client said she was "continually solicited for sex by another shelter guest and felt incredibly unsafe."
More than one woman reported being solicited for sex, according to one complaint. Employees with the health authority's harm reduction staff noted men approached them to solicit sex when outside a particular shelter and that "it appears to be a pattern when females are close to the shelter site."
The housing corporation received a complaint that same month that "there are allegations that the shelter operator at [redacted] has been engaging in sex acts with clients."
It noted that "as of yet, these allegations have yet to be substantiated, at least not to [redacted] but by observation and community partners."
In an emailed statement to CBC regarding that note, the housing corporation said it forwarded the information to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for investigation.
The RNC, however, could not find a record of a complaint being made by publishing time with the information provided.
'I could write a book complete with illustrations'
Clients who rely on the for-profit shelter system often fear repercussions of speaking up, according to the complaint ledger.
"I wanted to file a complaint about the living situation [at the shelter] and wondering the last time someone has monitored this place? No working stove or microwave and [redacted] advised he was handed a wooden handle when he entered the home to protect himself," one complaint said.
"The house is absolutely disgusting. I wouldn't let my pets sleep there. It's not fit for any human to inhabit. The house smells of mold, mildew, and urine. Holes in the walls, broken old smelly urine-soaked furniture."
The unnamed complaint went on to say that if clients complain they become at risk for eviction.
"I cannot with a good conscience sleep at night knowing some other poor soul is her [landlord's] next target to take advantage of. I could write a book complete with illustrations."
In another instance, a woman said she was afraid of staying at a shelter and slept in her vehicle because "someone had tried to stab another person," and "a client is staying there with a gun."
Staff reported that they overheard the shelter operator tell the woman to give back her keys to the room, and say, "You slept in your car once, you can sleep in it again ... Try going to a hotel and getting $50 a week for food."
In most cases, shelters are paid to provide food, and individuals are only given $62 through income support every two weeks. But there were a myriad of complaints where clients reported being fed Pogo sticks and Hungry-Man dinners, food that goes against their religion, or nothing at all.
Shelters not 'known for their accommodations'
"A lot of the for-profit operators, they're not known for their accommodations," said Doug Pawson, executive director of End Homelessness St. John's.
"They can be very unsafe. We know some of our staff who've tried to access them are unable to go into those locations because of safety concerns."
During a protest on the steps of Confederation Building Monday, Robert Osmond said the current system aims only to line the pockets of private operators.
"The slums of the slums, you guys pay top dollar for it," said Osmond, who has been without a place to live for five months.
"It would be cheaper for you guys to put us in a hotel. Shelter residents here now are getting poorer and poorer. The ones who own the shelters are getting dirty, filthy rich."
Robert
Osmond was the first person to pitch a tent in the park across the
street from Confederation Building in St. John's earlier this month. He
is pictured holding a box of food that had been donated to protesters
there. (Ryan Cooke/CBC)
In November 2019, following a CBC News story on for-profit shelter operations, then-housing minister Lisa Dempster stressed that 38 per cent fewer people were in private shelter. That switch happened, she said, after the province moved the responsibility for shelters to the housing corporation.
"I believe that means we're making progress in that area, plus we're putting a tremendous effort into reducing the overall number of shelter stays for people in this province," Dempster said in the House of Assembly.
Yet, for-profit shelters — and more recently hotels— are funded almost equally to the levels of non-profit organizations, like the Gathering Place and Salvation Army.
Currently, there is no obligation for private operators to offer anything in terms of support or health care services.
Paul Pike, the minister currently responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, told CBC Radio's On The Go Tuesday that there are "lots of services available" at the shelters the protesters have been advocating against.
"These shelters have wraparound services," said Pike.
"People can go there ... there are people there to help them fill out applications to go in [the] Newfoundland and Labrador Housing list. There are people that are there ... social workers that are there if they have any special needs and so on."
That runs counter to the complaints lodged with the housing corporation, which describe a lack of services, support, and basic needs.
"If these people are serious about getting into our housing units, things like that, they can fill out an application, they go on the list," Pike said.
In a statement from the housing corporation, a spokesperson from the department said inspections are conducted quarterly and when an issue arises or a complaint is received.
"At minimum, a social worker and emergency housing officer would visit the property without notice to inspect/investigate and identify any issues requiring remediation," the emailed statement said.
During the fiscal year, 2022-23, the housing corporation said it conducted 39 inspections of for-profit shelters. There have been 10 inspections since April 1 of this year.
The NLHC stressed that a complaint does not always mean a violation, but each is reviewed to determine validity and appropriate action.
Private operators often accept clients who would normally be unable to stay at non-profit organizations because of violence, and drug and alcohol use. Various government ministers throughout the years have repeatedly said that there are no other options for some clients.
Establishing standards
The housing corporation says it recognizes the problems inside the shelter system, and has hired OrgCode Consulting to help develop a shelter standards framework.
The Ontario-based company, which works with governments, non-profits and other organizations to prevent and reduce homelessness, has conducted focus groups with community agencies, shelter operators, and clients.
Ashley Ben Said, a private and non-profit shelter operator who receives hundreds of thousands of government dollars, is on the steering committee developing the set of standards.
"Those standards [will be] maintained and met, whether you're a private, non-profit or hotel, so everyone gets the same service," she said.
"It's something all of us have been invested in so it gets dealt with and done, sooner rather than later."
Doug Pawson, of End Homelessness St. John's, says shelters are often unsafe and unfit for people to stay there. (Ashley Burke/CBC Ottawa)
Pawson, who is also on the committee, said work is preliminary but he is optimistic.
"They're going to create a philosophy for how this should work. So it's not just about the size of a room or what kind of meal should be provided."
Pawson said there are a series of standards in place in other provinces, but they're not applied consistently across Canada. He would like to see an ombudsman so that clients can advocate for themselves without risking eviction.
"The thing that we have to remember is these are folks who are very vulnerable. They're living in a very stressful situation," he said. "Imagine not knowing which shelter you may spend the night at and the trauma that may impose on folks."
A number of complaints focused on concerns surrounding open drug and alcohol use in shelters.
Pawson believes all shelters — both non-profit and for-profit — should be low-barrier to accept all individuals, regardless of their drug and alcohol use and criminal background.
A set of standards and guidelines would balance the needs of those who use and those who do not, Pawson said.
As for the future of for-profit operators, Pawson said: "They shouldn't be relying on residential homes to be emergency shelter when they could just simply be homes."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hmmm I wonder who O'Meara is
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Minister Responsible for the Community Sector
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
Member for Burin – Grand Bank
Paul Pike graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts (Education) Degree and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. He has four decades of experience in teaching and administration at all education levels including post-secondary.
Minister Pike has been involved in promoting the development and economic sustainability of the Burin Peninsula for a number of years, having served on municipal council with the Town of St. Lawrence for twenty-eight years, including time as mayor. He also served as Vice-President of Municipalities NL and Public Relations Chairperson of the Municipal Assessment Agency.
Minister Pike has also been an active volunteer in his community as a Director with the Community Credit Union, Director with the Burin Peninsula Community Development Board and as a member of the Burin Peninsula Eastern Health Advisory Board, among involvement in other organizations.
He and his wife Laura have three children and seven grandchildren.
Minister Pike was elected as the MHA for Burin – Grand Bank in the 2021 Provincial General Election.
Mandate LetterOpens in new window
Minister’s Office Contacts
Minister’s Office
Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development
P.O. Box 8700
Confederation Building
St. John’s, NLA1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-0659
Fax: (709) 729-1049
Email: CSSDMinister@gov.nl.ca
| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Paul Pike | 2,666 | 59.59 | +7.97 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Fred Dodge | 1,639 | 36.63 | -11.75 | ||||
| New Democratic | Alvin Banfield | 169 | 3.78 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 4,474 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Liberalhold | Swing | +9.86 | ||||||
Source(s) | ||||||||
| 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election | ||||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Carol Anne Haley | 2,822 | 51.62 | -27.73 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Bill Matthews | 2,645 | 48.39 | +39.55 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,467 | 99.02 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 54 | 0.98 | +0.64 | |||||
| Turnout | 5,521 | 65.70 | +11.99 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 8,403 | |||||||
| Liberalhold | Swing | -33.64 | ||||||
Bill Matthews | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament of Canada for Random—Burin—St. George's (Burin—St. George's, 1997–2004) | |
| In office September 22, 1997 – September 7, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Roger Simmons |
| Succeeded by | Judy Foote |
| Member of Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Grand Bank | |
| In office 1982–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Leslie Thoms |
| Succeeded by | Judy Foote |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Matthews July 22, 1947  Grand Bank, Newfoundland |
| Political party | Liberal (1999–2008) |
| Other political affiliations | Progressive Conservative (1982–1999) |
| Residence(s) | Grand Bank, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Portfolio | Fisheries & Oceans (Critic) |
Matthews was a Progressive Conservative member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1982 to 1996. During this time, he was a cabinet minister, as Minister of Culture, Recreation and Youth from 1985 to 1988 and Minister of Career Development and Advanced Studies from 1988 to 1989.
Matthews was later elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1997 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, representing the riding of Burin—St. George's. He crossed the floor to the Liberals in 1999, and continued to represent the riding until 2004. In that year's federal election, he was elected to the newly redistributed district of Random—Burin—St. George's, which he represented until 2008.
Matthews is a former teacher. He is a former Parliamentary Secretary to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Deputy House Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, and Progressive Conservative critic of Fisheries and Oceans.
In March 2007, Matthews called Prime MinisterStephen Harper a "liar." While Speaker of the HousePeter Milliken didn't give in to demands from outraged Tories to throw Matthews out of the chamber, Milliken did not allow Matthews to rise in the House for what would be the last 14 months of Matthews' career.[1] Matthews did not run for reelection in the 2008 election.[2]
In October 2018, Matthews was appointed as Chief of Staff to provincial PC leader Ches Crosbie in the Opposition Office.[3]
Matthews contested the 2019 provincial election as the PC candidate in Burin-Grand Bank,[4] but was defeated by Liberal incumbent Carol Anne Haley.[5]
Ches Crosbie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office October 12, 2018 – March 31, 2021[1] | |
| Preceded by | David Brazil |
| Succeeded by | David Brazil |
| Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| In office April 28, 2018 – March 31, 2021[2] | |
| Preceded by | Paul Davis |
| Succeeded by | David Brazil (interim) |
| Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Windsor Lake | |
| In office October 12, 2018 – March 27, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Cathy Bennett |
| Succeeded by | John Hogan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chesley Furneaux Crosbie June 12, 1953 St. John's, Newfoundland |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Relations | Chesley Crosbie (grandfather), Sir John Chalker Crosbie (great-grandfather) |
| Parent(s) | John Crosbie and Jane Crosbie |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Chesley Furneaux "Ches" Crosbie, K.C. (born 12 June 1953) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician. Crosbie was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador on April 28, 2018 serving until March 31, 2021.[3][4] He served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 2018 until 2021.
Early life
Crosbie is the eldest of three children of Jane (Furneaux) and John C. Crosbie and was born and raised in St. John's.[5] His father was a prominent figure in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canadian politics, a provincial and federal cabinet minister who also served as Lieutenant-Governor of the province (2008–13). Crosbie is also a grandson and namesake of Chesley A. Crosbie and the great-grandson of Sir John Crosbie, prominent businessmen and public figures in Newfoundland.
Crosbie's early education was at Bishop Feild College in St. John's, and at St. Andrews College in Aurora, Ontario. He was selected as Newfoundland and Labrador's Rhodes Scholar in 1976,[6] studying jurisprudence at Oxford, and continued his legal studies at Dalhousie University. There he met his future wife, Lois Hoegg, a native of Stellarton, Nova Scotia. She has been a Justice of the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court since 2007. They have three daughters.[7]
Lawyer
On completing law school, Crosbie returned to St. John's and was admitted to the bar in 1983. He founded Ches Crosbie Barristers in 1991. The firm developed expertise in class actions, and Crosbie first came into the public eye as an advocate for breast cancer patients affected by delayed and erroneous test results[8] (settled in 2009, see Cameron Inquiry), for the victims of moose-vehicle accidents, for users of video lottery terminals, and for the former residents of residential schools in Labrador (settled in 2016).[9] Crosbie was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2004.[10]
From an interest in helping injured children, Crosbie and his firm have given away thousands of bicycle helmets to young people across the province. He has worked on a pro bono basis with former shipyard employees attempting to get compensation for long-term health problems. He has also volunteered with heritage organizations such as the Sealer's Memorial and Interpretation Centre in Elliston, Trinity Bay,[11] and worked with the Placentia Historical Society and the Town of Placentia to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1941 meeting of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill which established the Atlantic Charter.[12]
Politics
Crosbie's earliest involvement in politics came as a supporter of his father, who was a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1983. He is a long-time provincial Progressive Conservative and federal Conservative supporter.
In 2014, Crosbie announced his candidacy for the federal constituency of Avalon. However, in 2015, his candidacy was rejected by the Conservative Party of Canada, reputedly as the result of his "playful barbs" concerning Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a Shakespearean-parody fundraising skit.[13] His father, John Crosbie, then accused the federal Conservatives of squashing his son's candidacy because he was too independent and because Newfoundland senator David Wells wanted to keep his control over Newfoundland patronage appointments, an accusation that Wells denied.[14]
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
In February 2017, Crosbie announced an exploratory candidacy for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, following the resignation of leader and former PremierPaul Davis. On April 28, 2018, Crosbie defeated Health Authority CEO Tony Wakeham to succeed Davis.[15] The leadership convention operated under a mixed vote-points system in which a hundred points were awarded in each of 40 districts across the provinces, based on the percentage of vote each candidate won. The final tally was Crosbie with 2,298.92 and Wakeham with 1,701.08 points respectively.[3][16]
In August 2018, Crosbie announced his candidacy for the district of Windsor Lake following the resignation of MHA Cathy Bennett.[17][18] On September 20, 2018, Crosbie won the race and therefore became Leader of the Opposition.[19]
Crosbie led the party into the 2019 provincial election with the party increasing its seat count from 7 to 15. The PCs finished 1% behind the Liberals in the popular vote and the Ball government was reduced to a minority.[20][21][22][23] Crosbie was personally re-elected in Windsor Lake.
Crosbie endorsed Peter Mackay in the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.[24]
Crosbie led the party into the 2021 provincial election.[25] He was personally defeated in his district of Windsor Lake;[26] while the party lost one other seat, electing 13 MHAs. The Liberals under Furey won a majority government.[27] On March 31, 2021, Crosbie resigned as PC leader.[28][29]
Retirement
On February 14, 2022, it emerged that Crosbie donated $800 to the protesters in the Freedom Convoy.[30] He endorsed Pierre Poilievre in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.[31]
Leader. Edutainer. Coach. Consultant. Researcher. Blogger. Do-gooder. Potty mouth. Positive disruptor. Relentless advocate for social justice. Comedian. Dad. Minimalist. Recovering musician. Canadian citizen. International jetsetter. Living life in jeans and a t-shirt. Trying really hard to end homelessness. Driven by change, fuelled by passion.