COVID-19: Hamilton to extend pandemic measures for shelter system

The original plan was to close a temporary shelter for men at the former Cathedral Boys' school in Hamilton at the end of this month.

But the city say the Main Street East overflow space that opened in October must operate longer with COVID-19 expected to strain Hamilton's shelter system for several more months.

Gilyana Zayya has stayed at the Cathedral shelter run by social-service agency Good Shepherd for about a month after his discharge from mental-health care.

They said, Where will you go?' And I kept saying, I'm going to be homeless,'" the soft-spoken 34-year-old recalled on the front steps of the old school Thursday afternoon.

So he ended up at the shelter at the corner of Emerald Street South.

The city expects keeping the 45-bed overflow space open until no later than Dec. 31 will cost $1.5 million.

It's part of an effort to create more space for physical distancing in Hamilton's shelter system and to address additional pandemic needs through March 2022.

Overall, the continuing initiatives, which include hotel rooms and drop-in programs, as well as an increase in beds for the overburdened women's system, are expected to cost an extra $21.4 million by December.

That spells an $11-million municipal budget pressure between this coming July and March next year, but city staff hope additional provincial and federal funding, or drawing on pandemic reserves, will offset that.

As of March 2021, there were 503 shelter spaces in Hamilton, an increase of 162 beds from the pre-pandemic count of 341, noted a report before councillors Thursday.

Last year, Hamilton's shelter system saw a seven per cent decrease in the number of people who sought beds, but how long they stayed jumped by 17 per cent.

The city and its partners found housing for 319 households, or 741 people, between April 2020 and this past March, Edward John, housing services director, told councillors.

What we have seen is continued occupancy pressures, notwithstanding the number of available beds within the system has increased by over 50 per cent through the pandemic."

A limited supply of available units and staff redeployed from regular programs to emergency shelter responses interrupted efforts to find people housing, John noted.

Housing services, public health, shelter operators and street outreach doctors collaborated to provide initial vaccinations to roughly 450 people who were homeless between February and May.

Clinics offering second doses are planned for later this month.

Local shelter operators also say the pandemic has placed additional strain on an already vulnerable population, including the women's system.

YWCA Hamilton notes its overnight drop-in space for women, a partnership with St. Joseph's Healthcare, experienced a 150 per cent increase in stays in the past year. About 20 newcomers are at Carole Anne's Place there every month.

It's indicative of an overall growing pressure on the women's system during the pandemic, Medora Uppal, director of operations, said in an interview. It's really challenging, and when we do have to turn women away, it's heartbreaking for staff."

Karen, who declined to give her last name out of concern for her family, says she had little option but to stay in a city-booked hotel room after her son's girlfriend kicked" her out of their place.

I got put here because there was no room in the shelters," the 54-year-old said while having a smoke Thursday afternoon outside her east-end hotel. So either come here or live on the street."

It's a goal the pandemic has set off course, but the city aims to end chronic homelessness in Hamilton by 2025.

John explained that will involve a focus on preventing homelessness and keeping people housed through a variety of approaches, including case management services, accompany health support and housing allowances.

The upshot would be less reliance on emergency shelter stays, he noted. We really want to make sure it's temporary and nonrecurring."

Coun. Chad Collins said he didn't see an end in sight, unfortunately," to homelessness in Hamilton.

Homelessness increased and the wait list for social housing spiked after the financial crisis of 2008-09 - a phenomenon he worries the pandemic will echo.

If that happens, we're in trouble because we're already in a crisis situation," said Collins, adding the Ontario government needs to offer more support.

Gilyana Zayya, meanwhile, will have more time at the temporary Cathedral shelter with continued funding for its operation.

He hopes to have his own place soon.

Hopefully get vaccinated, too."

Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com