The Elliot Lake Women's Group, which operates MapleGate House for Women, has applied to the city for new zoning amendments concerning two houses they have purchased to help the homeless crisis in the area.
The first home, on Lawrence Avenue, will be a transitional home for women who are waiting for housing in the area. The other home, located on Mississauga Avenue, will be the new location for a local men's shelter. Currently, there are no men's shelter in the area. The closest one is in Sudbury.
Right now, both houses are fully detached residential dwellings and are currently zoned as R1, Residential One and Two Family Dwelling. This Lawrence Avenue house has five bedrooms with the potential for a second kitchen on the lower level. There is a usable washroom on both levels with two entrances into the house. The Mississauga location has three bedrooms on the top floor with another being constructed in the basement. There are two bathrooms at this location with an eat-in kitchen. The basement is finished. There is also a garage in the backyard, where residents can have social gatherings and take part in MapleGate's Friendship Program.
Normally, zoning changes are first brought to council before the proposed property is purchased but due to the housing market in the area, the houses were bought, then the applications for new zoning amendments were brought to council.
Melody Rose, MapleGate House for Women's director, explained that because they lost out on two properties before, the Elliot Lake Women's Group decided to proceed with the purchases first, then zoning changes second.
"We decided that if we just put this forward and it did not work, then we would look at alternative things that the Elliot Lake Women's Group would do with the houses if it did not work," she explained.
This process did not sit with Councillor Norman Mann. He recounted how the process works, meaning the zoning changes need to be brought up first before the purchasing of the homes. Because of this, he said believes it puts council in a difficult position in moving forward with their decision on what to do.
"It kind of puts us in a bit of a challenge to discuss something that's already moving forward," he said.
Some of the main concerns councillors had concerning the new homes are parking and the security cameras. Councillors expressed that there isn't enough parking spaces at both locations for the amount of bedrooms the houses offer.
"With this time of year, we can't park on the street," expressed Mann.
Rose explained to councillors that at the Lawrence Avenue transitional house, the opportunity to build more parking spaces is there and can begin at the deck of the house. She also explained to council that the security cameras would be monitored by MapleGate staff.
"We are absolutely cognisant of security and confidentiality of everyone, given what we do," she said. "Cameras would just be pointed around the house and not at the neighbours."
Moving forward with this plan, Councillor Chris Patrie noted his concern over the fact that he did not approve of the locations of the houses. He suggested the Elliot Lake Women's Group look at industrial and commercial areas for the homes.
"I have issues with the locations of this," he said. "I don't agree that they should be in residential zones. I do believe this should have been looked from someone down in the commercial sector, industrial sector and putting in housing or an apartment requirements for these transitional needs. I do not want this to go in residential neighbourhoods. I don't agree on moving forward at those locations."
Other councillors disagreed with Patrie's statement. Councillor Connie Nykyforak expressed her disappointment that Patrie wishes to put the housing in industrial areas.
"I definitely don't support finding housing in an industrial area," she said. "I don't think that's appropriate. Zoning is for buildings, not for people."
Last month, the Elliot Lake's Women's Group hosted an a community consultation, where residents in the areas near the two shelters were able to voice their concerns. According to Rose, it was met with great support from the community.
Rose explained that for over two years, she has been in the process of fixing the issues of a men's shelter and a transitional home for women.
After a roll call vote on whether or not a public meeting will be hosted, it voted to move forward to the meeting with everyone approving the application with the opposition of Patrie.
The public meeting will be held on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.