It’s only been one month since the Victorious Living Centres emergency shelter held its official opening in Owen Sound — and already there is a danger lack of funding could result in it closing its doors.
Reverend Randy Kennedy says the big issue is consistent funding to keep the 16 bed shelter open.
He says the problem is that Grey County provides emergency shelter funding to the homeless, but that money is not given to the shelter to provide food and accommodation.
Kennedy says instead that money is being used by the homeless to purchase what he describes as various vices that pushed many of these people into a homeless condition.
He says while the shelter is trying to do some good for these people , in fact by letting this money slip away is causing some problems in the community by helping fund the illegal drug trade.
Kennedy says in an ideal world, the County should be directing some of that homeless allowance to the shelter to help it meet its operating costs and keep its programs running.
He says that is the situation that exists is many other cities and towns in Ontario, and can’t understand why the county does not adopt that policy here.
Kennedy says he has been unsuccessfully in meeting with County Social Service officials about changing the way the housing money is handed out to the homeless.
He fears with the arrival of the cooler weather,demand for the shelter will increase to the point that they simply cant afford to operate any more.
Kennedy says what is needed is a community effort address this problem and provide the homeless with some positive choices.