Mainstream Media Gets It Right!
...not news satire from the online publication The Beaverton
...the size of the project in a community of just 2,800 is “unprecedented” in all of Canada, with other similar projects located in communities 10 times the size of their town and offering half the number of modular units.
Follow-up to Council Meeting of September28, 2020
Brock Supports Pause on Beaverton Expedited Housing Proposal
Council unanimously passed motion by all present to request Durham Region to PAUSE the Expedited Housing Complex as requested by nearly 2,000 citizens in Beaverton Ontario...see letter of acknowledgement.
Go Slow or Fail Fast
Go Slow or Fail Fast
Go Slow or Fail Fast
Expedited is another term for heading for failure. Or deception. Or waste.
Wrapping the panic of a pandemic around it to avoid proper review and engagement of Beaverton Ontario residents is unacceptable.
Out of Sight...
Go Slow or Fail Fast
Go Slow or Fail Fast
Confronted by lack of information and poor representation from Local and Regional Officials, the community of Beaverton Ontario is actively seeking answers in support of satisfactory solutions for all. 80% of the Beaverton community signed a Petition asking to be treated like citizens of Durham Region rather than being dismissed by Oshawa administrators.
For All Of Durham
Go Slow or Fail Fast
For All Of Durham
We are focused on making the maximum positive impact for the Beaverton Ontario community. We've been astounded by the support for this effort as over 80% of the Beaverton community endorsed the petition to plead that elected representatives get answers and commitments! . We want transparent, open, data driven models to inform solutions that make a long-lasting and positive difference.
THE PETITION
Petition to further study Supportive Housing Project in Beaverton Ontario
...signed by 1877 concerned citizens since August 25, 2020 and presented to Brock Township Council September 28, 2020
The Region of Durham has approved an expedited Supportive Housing Project for unsheltered people with addictions and/or mental health concerns to be built at 133 Main Street Beaverton on the lands adjacent to Lakeview Manor and Gillespie Gardens. The project proposes 50 Modular Units plus a 5000 square foot common building.
At this time, the project should be put on hold until the following concerns are addressed:
- • Lack of public consultation prior to Regional approval
- • Lack of research for the proposed location (Beaverton was not on the list of sites recommended for this type of facility by Durham Region’s Housing Task Force)
- • Lack of studies demonstrating the need in this area
- • Lack of tender for the design, delivery and installation of the 50 housing units
- • Lack of priority for North Durham residents
- • Lack of access to necessary community services (as outlined in the Ontario Supportive Housing Best Practices Guide, March 2017 (See pdf downloads) such as:
✔Addiction/treatment facilities
✔Emergency Services
✔ Medical Services
✔Transportation
✔Shopping
✔Recreation
✔Employment
✔Social Networks
Nearly 2,000 Residents have signed this petition to show the support for the following motion that was presented at Brock Council with the request that our Regional representation, Mayor Debbie Bath-Hadden and Regional Councillor Ted Smith, take our concerns, as outlined above, to the Region of Durham.
“That the Township of Brock oppose the location at 133 Main Street for Modular housing until the Region of Durham seeks formal public consultation, input and feedback. Further, that formal studies and research be completed to support this location as being the optimal location for supportive housing. Further that this resolution be sent to the Region of Durham, Municipal affairs and housing and MPP Laurie Scott.”
For Your Information
A Community Letter - STILL TIME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
...a 7 minute read...
TO ALL; as we watch, read and listen to the offered information and feedback surrounding the proposed Supportive Housing Project in Beaverton; I would like to offer my summary comments for your consideration, and hoped-for remedial steps, before it's too late to more wisely apply 14 Million ($14,000,000). of our hard earned tax dollars, as well as larger than necessary go-forward costs if in fact Bvtn remains the Region's chosen site.
- The entire "process" was much too rushed, at least the public portion, resulting in an ill-informed, wrong decision by both senior staff and our elected representatives.
- It's OK to make a mistake; but the real measure is what we do to correct that mistake once we realize it; and find the strength to admit it and begin corrective steps; we have seen none of this from the Region or our Regional representatives to date.
- We know; you all know; the whole world knows; the only positive about the Bvtn site is that it's already owned and zoned to host a facility of this type; but all other critical metrics for success are missing when this site is examined "in front of the curtain". It simply does NOT meet several distinct requirements; best location to serve its intended clients being the optimal measuring criteria.
- The Region has so far been silent in response to several formal requests to see the "pre-decision" alternate potential sites info, as well as the internal discussions and decision making process that landed on the Bvtn site. I heard a "no brainer" quote attributed to the Brock process along the way; and the saying seems totally appropriate to this wrong headed outcome !
- Nobody in Bvtn is against helping people who wish to help themselves, but we are totally against wasting $14,000,000. of our money on the wrong site when it could be more properly applied at an appropriate site, or 2 smaller facilities at 2 more appropriate sites.
- A 4 or 5 bed Regional supportive group home; properly staffed and controlled; on a portion of the Bvtn site perhaps; but NOT a 50 bed CAMH-type facility in the most rural, out of site/out of mind, unsuitable area of Durham.
- Of course the most recent ton of salt in the open, unrepresented, democratic wounds of us Beaverites is the "caving" of our elected Regional reps; Mayor and Regional Councillor; as well as the unlistening nature of Durham's senior staff who don't try to justify the decision with facts; or comparison sites data; but rather just "dictate" to us that the $14,000,000. will be wasted in Bvtn.
- One of the strongest Regional advocates for the Bvtn site is Mayor Carter of Oshawa, who has spoken condescendingly to concerned Bvtn residents and placed himself on his own pedestal as a homelessness, addiction, mental health expert. (See point 9 below).
- This same Mayor Carter from Oshawa recently asked Durham Police Board for increased Police coverage as well as government funding for additional Private Policing to address homelessness and related crime/addiction/mental health issues in Oshawa, where he clearly stated "80% of Durham's struggling homeless people are based". So why establish a 50 bed facility in far away Bvtn? Could it possibly be an attempt to rid Oshawa and south Durham of challenging social problems by shipping them to the boonies of Brock ?? Blatant, shameful, shameless, hypocrisy by a Regional Leader. Disgusting indeed !!
- At the Provincial level, once again our MPP Laurie Scott is missing in action; will not respond to or stick up for constituents who elected her; and delegates her office spokesperson to brush us aside. What a sham; just like her and others' absence during the Goodyear Farms lake pollution issue. She should be speaking up for us locally, and at Queen's Park at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
- So many more points; but is anyone really listening? Guess time will tell ?
I've always believed in; participated in; supported; and encouraged others to be involved in; our democratic process at all governance levels; and believed that what's right will eventually prevail if we all participate. Now I have never felt more unrepresented or unlistened too. Where did the democratic system go ???
In closing; I am STILL asking all of the above questions of our elected officials and senior Regional staff, and wonder who will join the 4 Brock Councillors who DID speak up for us in an effort to bring some common sense to this issue before $14,000.000. is wasted on the Bvtn or any other inappropriate site, And more importantly, before the democratic system we all cherish AND believe in, is trampled into the mud in such a blatant manner !!
I urge each and every one of you to step up and do the right thing in any/all manner possible. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING !!
Paul Nelson, Beaverton
Be Heard By Durham Region Council
Let them know - There IS STILL TIME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
- Use info from this page to express your views directly to Durham Region Councillors
Durham Region Council Chair John Henry chair@durham.ca
Town of Ajax Mayor of Ajax Shaun Collier shaun.collier@ajax.ca
Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford marilyn.crawford@ajax.ca
Regional Councillor Joanne Dies joanne.dies@ajax.ca
Regional Councillor Sterling Lee sterling.lee@ajax.ca
Township of Brock Mayor of Brock Debbie Bath Hadden dbathhadden@townshipofbrock.ca
Regional Councillor Ted Smith tsmith@townshipofbrock.ca
Municipality of Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster mayor@clarington.net
Regional Councillor Granville Anderson ganderson@clarington.net
Regional Councillor Joe Neal jneal@clarington.net
City of Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter dcarter@oshawa.ca
Regional Councillor Bob Chapman bchapman@oshawa.ca
Regional Councillor Rick Kerr rkerr@oshawa.ca
Regional Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri tdmarimpietri@oshawa.ca
Regional Councillor John Neal jneal@oshawa.ca
Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson bnicholson@oshawa.ca
City of Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan mayor@pickering.ca
Regional Councillor Kevin Ashe kashe@pickering.ca
Regional Councillor Bill McLean bmclean@pickering.ca
Regional Councillor David Pickles dpickles@pickering.ca
Township of Scugog Mayor Bobbie Drew bdrew@scugog.ca
Regional Councillor Wilma Wotten wwotten@scugog.ca
Township of Uxbridge Mayor Dave Barton dbarton@uxbridge.ca
Regional Councillor Gord Highet ghighet@uxbridge.ca
Town of Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell mayor@whitby.ca
Regional Councillor Chris Leahy leahyc@whitby.ca
Regional Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy mulcahy@whitby.ca
Regional Councillor Elizabeth Roy roye@whitby.ca
Regional Councillor Steve Yamada yamadas@whitby.ca
Alternates Councillor Rob Tyler-Moring rob.tylermorin@ajax.ca
Councillor Maurice Brenner mbrenner@pickering.ca
Councillor Bruce Garrod bgarrode@uxbridge.ca
Councillor Deidre Newman newmand@whitby.ca
Use info from this site to express your views to Ontario Opposition Members: https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/jeff-burch Municipal Affairshttps://www.ola.org/en/members/all/rima-berns-mcgown Poverty & Homelessnesshttps://www.ola.org/en/members/all/bhutila-karpoche Mental Health and Addiction