Coun. Shawn Nason, who represents Transcona, said some residents are frustrated with the misuse of two shelters along Regent right in front of the Kildonan Place Mall and believe they should be demolished. He said some of the shelters are occupied by people who are homeless and living with dependencies. “The challenge we continue to have is that there is a significant problem of homelessness in the city of Winnipeg,” Nason said. He said people leave shelters in the city center and then head to Regent. “There have been a lot of negative interactions trying to use the area’s transit businesses.” Nason said he is working with organizations to try to find a long-term solution. However, he said there was talk of removing the shelters, leaving only the roof behind. “Look to remove the glass walls, remove the benches and remove the electric heaters that exist to keep the glass from freezing. In winter, it is not for heat. (It is) to keep the glass from freezing.” Marion Willis, the executive director of St. Boniface Street Links said it supports this particular proposal, noting that there is a children’s store nearby and it has become a safety issue for locals shopping and visiting the area. “The behavior and some of the challenges that arise at this transit shelter have created a public health and safety issue for people, especially families with children,” Willis said. He said this step is the last resort, but noted that a longer-term solution is needed to help these people get out of the way. “These transit shelters are intended for use by all citizens and I am not going to protect your right to be here, but I will protect your right to receive income support and housing.” This is an emotion that Nason shares. “We are moving towards housing. Housing is taking a long time. We have short-term accommodation,” Nason said. Sandra Hagenaars, the mall’s general manager, spoke at the Infrastructure and Public Works Renewal meeting on Thursday to support the proposal, noting that she constantly receives emails about shelters. “People are worried,” he said. “There are used needles, there are people who try to enter stores and insist on using toilets, insist on using facilities. They become aggressive, abusive.” He said the retail industry has been hit hard by COVID-19 and noted that this is just another hurdle for workers who are just trying to do their job. James Van Gerwen, executive vice president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, also spoke at the meeting and said he did not want to see the crossing shelters demolished as this could lead to negative experiences for riders and prevent people from using it. transport. However, he said that if the decision is made to dismantle the shelters, he hopes it will be done temporarily. “Our transit system is based on these shelters and if we want to bring people back, we can not make it more difficult by forcing them to stand out in the rain or in difficult weather. We have to take care of the problem at the source,” Van said. Gerwen. The Infrastructure and Public Works Renewal Committee voted in favor of dismantling the bus shelters three to one.
