The future of an emergency housing shelter in Aurora faces further uncertainty after York Region council decide to guarantee no legal action if the town declines the project.
After a closed-session discussion, the region voted that it would not take the town to the Ontario Land Tribunal over the proposed emergency and transitional housing facility at 14452 Yonge St. Council further decided to look to reallocate federal grant funding initially intended for the facility to alternative projects due to the town’s planning timelines.
Four months after a public planning meeting Jan. 24, no follow-up public meeting has been scheduled, despite York Region having expected to start construction this spring. Blue Door CEO Michael Braithwaite, set to operate the facility, said the delays are unfortunate.
“The need to grow our emergency and transitional housing response for men is dire, and it’s now,” he said. “The longer this goes on, the longer more men will go without this service.”
The project garnered significant pushback from residents who did not want a shelter near them, with expressions of concern about community safety and property values. A ratepayers association has formed to oppose it.
In the face of opposition, the Town of Aurora opted not to let the plans progress to the next level in January, instead asking for further work to be done at the staff level and for another future public meeting later to determine if issues have been resolved.
If Aurora denied the proposal, the option would exist for York Region to appeal to the land planning tribunal. But regional council committed not to do so, keeping the decision-making power at the local level.
“The decision by regional council respects the autonomy and decision-making authority of local governments. The decision also acknowledges that local municipalities are best equipped to handle matters that directly affect their communities,” Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas said in a blog post.
Despite the planning delay, a spokesperson from the town said it is committed to working with partners to provide emergency and transitional housing.
“The town understands just how important it is that residents, in particular those from marginalized groups, have barrier-free access to housing and social services,” the municipality said.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission has criticized the opposition to the shelter and said those fears are no legal basis to oppose the project.
With the decision now more firmly in the hands of Aurora, Braithwaite said he hopes the town eventually decide the project can proceed. The region has eyed the location as one close to transit and other services that those in a shelter could use.
“We know it might not be popular with some of the folks in Aurora, but it’s the right place, it’s the right site," Braithwaite said.
If planners were to find an alternative location, Blue Door could go with it, Braithwaite said. But he added that it would have some disappointment as a change of location would further lengthen the amount of time before something is built.
“There are a lot of well-meaning and good councillors in Aurora, and we have to hold out hope that they’ll do what’s best for the community, including managing homelessness,” he said.
