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Salmon Arm  

Parent raises concern over homeless shelter in same building as Salmon Arm daycare

Location 'absolutely insane'

A Salmon Arm father says he was shocked to learn a homeless shelter would be opening up in the same building as his three-year-old son's daycare.

Seamus Mulcahy says the placement of the shelter beside the daycare and Storefront School for high-risk youth in the Downtown Activity Centre is "absolutely insane."

The temporary shelter opened just last week, and Mulcahy is concerned for the safety of the youngest children and the potential influence on students of the Storefront School, who may already be at risk of street life.

Mulcahy has written to Premier David Eby, the ministers of child care, children and family development, education, housing, mental health and addictions, MLA Greg Kyllo, MP Mel Arnold and Salmon Arm's mayor and council with his concerns.

"While I fully understand this is a complex issue and I support the need for housing of our homeless population in our community, I do not support putting a homeless shelter in the same building as a school for troubled teenagers, a preschool as well as a daycare," Mulcahy says in the letter.

"It is incomprehensible that a decision has been made to put a homeless shelter in the same building as a school for vulnerable adolescents ... who have been unsuccessful in a traditional school setting. In addition, a daycare and preschool that has our most precious and most vulnerable children."

He says he's never had an issue with the school and that placing the storefront teens "in the mix with people who are currently using drugs" puts them in danger.

While the shelter's hours will be 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Mulcahy says clients will likely "be hanging around all day."

The 20-bed facility is operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Salmon Arm executive director Dawn Dunlop says she "understands the concerns" and that the shelter is a "short-term solution."

"We had meetings over months to try and find a location," says Dunlop. "We explored every opportunity. It was either move forward on this site, or we don't have a shelter."

Mulcahy acknowledges safety measures have been put in place, but says no measures "can ensure the elimination of unacceptable risk to our children."

He says while there has been "uproar" in other communities about shelters nears schools, "someone thinks putting a shelter in the same building as a daycare and a school is reasonable?"

He's concerned about the safety of female staff at the daycare as well as that of the children.

Castanet has reached out to Discovery Kids Daycare for comment.

Meanwhile, there is a shortage of daycare spaces in the community, says Mulcahy.

"I feel sorry for the daycare. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place," he says.

"Will it be a case that children will be injured or worse before people come to their senses that this is a ludicrous solution?"

The shelter space has been leased until April 30. Meanwhile, BC Housing will continue searching for a permanent shelter location.

"We understand that safety is important, and it is our highest priority," said Dunlop.



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