The Township of Brock says it is being taken to court by the Region of Durham over a supportive housing project in Beaverton.
They say on September 24, the region served them with an Ontario Superior Court of Justice application targeting the bylaw that has been halting the project.
Interim Control By-law 2994-2020 was passed in November 2020, prohibiting the construction of supportive housing in Brock. It is set to expire in November 2021, but could be extended by Brock council.
The region has been looking to establish modular housing in Beaverton, with the aim of helping up to 50 people find shelter.
Some residents have expressed concerns about a perceived impact this could have in the area.
The Region issued this statement on Friday from Elaine Baxter-Trahair, Chief Administrative Officer
“There is an urgent need for supportive housing, which was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic; last year, 334 clients in north Durham who were homeless or at-risk of homelessness accessed supports. The Regional Municipality of Durham remains committed to moving this project forward to support residents in our three north Durham municipalities, and we are following the legal process to challenge the Township of Brock’s decision to prevent it. Prior to filing the lawsuit, the Region met with Council to help answer questions, formed a liaison group – that included residents – to help shape and provide input into the process, held community meetings, and shared information online in hopes of working collaboratively on this project. However, the health and well-being of residents waiting for supportive housing is at stake, and, while efforts continue to reach a resolution with the Township of Brock, we must continue with legal action to move this project forward. This development will be located between Gillespie Gardens, a housing complex owned and operated by Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and Lakeview Manor, a long-term care home owned and operated by the Region of Durham; the location, design and intended use for this supportive housing project is entirely appropriate for this location. “
I live in Oshawa and work in downtown Oshawa. There has always been quite a few homeless but since covid the numbers have exploded. Where did all these people come from. They were not residents of Oshawa orginally. Every town should be helping to relieve this terrible situation. We all have a responsibility to embrace and help these vulnerable people. Why is it Oshawa takes on this huge responsibility.
There are so many nice restaurants and stores downtown but we are all suffering due to our own residents not wanting to come downtown.
Yes the north end of Oshawa is booming with business and housing but the once nice downtown is overrun with mental illness, drug addicts, homelessness.
Pickering, Whitby, Bowmanville Ajax, Beaverton and other towns in Durham Region need to step up!
This has got to be the worst idea you could have come up with. Why would you bring all these people to a small town with no hospital, no doctor, no clinic, no resources, no police presence, no jobs and nothing to do but destroy property. These people will require resources and aid and if anything goes wrong you are anywhere from 40 mins to an hour from any help whatsoever. Whoever thought bringing those people here was a great idea is a complete tool and really needs to educate themselves on the area before just tearing it apart.
There are NO doctors for the current residents of Beaverton, so how can the town provide any medical care for more and more people moving into the area?
@ Louise Rice:
That is precisely WHY I live in Whitby !
Not my problem …
I.M. Tiredofyouall
Apparently Durham doesn’t like the democratic process unless it’s favorable to them.
The people of Beaverton are not opposed to supportive housing. What we are opposed to is the size of this project. We have a population (which consists of farming community as well) of approximately 3500 people. The size of this facility is massive compared to per capita population of other housing projects. There is not a single doctor in town. The Region has given no concrete plans on how we will support these residents. There are no jobs, no transit, police station is 45 minutes away. Closest hospital is 40 minutes away. No in town grocery store. Yet it seems that the region because they own the land already thinks it’s a fit place to put 50 people who need to fit the criteria of being homeless, mental health issues and addiction issues beside a nursing home!! Apparently Oshawa is putting in 10 micro homes for their homeless with a population of 180,000. Why not switch that up, and we will take the 10 micro homes and you can put in as large a facility as you want where the services and supports are already in place.
This isn’t about helping the unfortunate, this is about shipping southern durham region’s residents to the most northern section of the region to get them out of their sight. It really isn’t fair to these potential residents to be shipped off to nowhere and it will come back to haunt all of us. Durham region is bullying Brock Township and they will stop at nothing to get this put through.
SOS in Whitby too! changing the rules when they see losing and/or holding meetings after they have approved destroying green space. Lip service gives cold sores!
@Yolanda:
You are 100% bang-on !
There is nothing up in North Durham … just a dead-end.
Arty Fufkin