Bridge housing for homeless will ruin neighbourhood, says resident

0 Diana kh January 19, 2026

The Editor,

The following letter is addressed to Cornwall city council.

It is with great concern that I write to you about the Proposed Bridge Housing Development at 80012th St. East.

Although sympathetic to the homeless, our neighbourhood is not a suitable location for this “encampment” and that is exactly what it is. No different from the Eco Park encampment except they have tents instead of sleep cabins. The encampment at the Eco Park is already well established – why not set up the modular sleep cabins there? And haven’t there been complaints from people using the park around that area about being harassed, threatened or molested? You now want to bring this to our neighborhood? You do need to understand that all property values will devaluate. Will we be compensated for this? I would expect property tax breaks for everyone in our area! How will neighbourhood safety be ensured? Will there be 24/7 security and extra police patrols? Will there be ample cameras to monitor every possible drug deal or other issues? Will the individuals staying in these sleep cabins be vetted for drug or alcohol abuse or mental issues? Will the individuals have access to social workers? If they do have drug, alcohol abuse or mental issues, will they be receiving treatment?

2 Top reasons people are homeless

Affordable Housing: Lack of adequate, affordable housing is a primary driver. Mental Health: High rates of mental health and substance use issues, especially among 2SLGBTQI+ and youth.

This is a very busy neighbourhood with the Royal Oaks and the Church along with many many school buses and children in this neighbourhood. Daily Buses: 12 buses a day. Children walking or getting off buses daily: over 100 children a day.

So why here? There are so many other places in Cornwall where this “encampment” could be erected! There is an entire open field next to the fire department on 2nd Street.

This is a non-residential area across from a Dollar Store, a pharmacy and steps away from a grocery store.

Our area has no bus stops, no easily accessible stores.

The closest grocery store, pharmacy and Dollar store is a 15-minute walk away. This is lovely in the summer but not so much when it’s -25 with the windchill. Again, we are sympathetic to the homeless but this is truly a very very bad area to locate this project. This has always been a quiet and close-knit neighborhood. We have lived in this house since 1994 (that is 32 years and now we want to move because of this). We feel threatened by this project and feel there are probably hundreds of other locations where this project could be more suitably located.

My husband and I and many of our neighbors will be in attendance at the January 14 meeting to also voice our concerns.