The head of the Windsor Downtown Mission is confident a controversial move to the Central Branch of the Windsor Public Library is for the best, despite some public outcry over the decision.
Executive Director Ron Dunn told a small crowd of about 30 at a meeting Monday night that some in the community are angry about losing the branch, that the Mission is attracting outsiders, and that it's growing too fast.
Dunn said the Mission needs the space to help with the growing opioid addiction crisis and those who are homeless.
"If it's not the Downtown Mission helping, then who?" asked Dunn.
He said the need for shelter is rising and added there's a growing trend among seniors looking for help.
One person at the meeting said drug abuse in downtown Windsor is scaring business away.
Dunn said fighting the stigma surrounding drug addiction is constant and added that the Mission can't police or track every homeless person who abuses drugs. He added that the Mission's clients who go and get high are allowed back into the shelter at night, but his staff always call police if they spot drug dealers circling.
He said he looked at other buildings in the core such as H.M.C.S. Hunter (the old naval reserve building on Ouellette Avenue near Erie Street) but it was too expensive, had mould issues and the library was cheaper and the best fit.
"I'm not building a kingdom," Dunn insisted.
He said the federal government has written him saying it's willing to help financially.
The city, Dunn said, is already funding two other shelters and overspent its $800,000 budget to put the homeless in hotels by double last year.
The Downtown Mission takes possession of the 850 Ouellette Ave. library branch on February 28, 2020.
The 664 Victoria Ave. location has been sold and the Mission is expected to be out by October of next year.
There is a $9.3 million "Building Hope" campaign underway to modernize the facility with 29 affordably priced apartments. The new facility will have 127 emergency shelter beds to compliment the 103 across the street at the sanctuary opened a year ago. So far, Dunn said, $2.4 million has been raised towards that goal.
Dunn said there are no plans for a homeless shelter in the county right now despite talks with Leamington.
Another meeting will be held June 25 at the Downtown Mission at 664 Victoria Ave.