The Editor,
My name is Sara, and I am a local historian. I have spent many years researching various local topics, buildings, people, and events, but my favourite subject has always been Cornwall’s House of Refuge. You may not recognize the building by that name, but you will recognize it as: Heartwood, Best View, The Convalodge, or maybe even as St. Michael’s Academy; all of which operated within 201 Eleventh Street East. Cornwall’s House of Refuge was constructed and originally operated as a poor house. The destitute, elderly, and the poor, were the people who called the facility “home” during it’s operations from 1913 to 1952. As this building was being constructed, thousands of local citizens protested. Not once, not twice, but continuously while the discussions were put in place via the Canadian government, which stated that cities had to build these institutions. Several local news outlets wrote about the protests and petitions, leaving behind evidence for someone like me to review many years later. Fast forward to 2026. We have gone full circle. We are facing the exact same need and protest that happened when the House of Refuge was constructed over one hundred years ago. As far as an opinion goes, as a citizen of Cornwall, does mine really matter? I do not feel heard by local politicians, or by any management of Cornwall housing. I face homelessness head on, every single day. I live within the vicinity of Parisien Manor (Cornwall’s “temporary” housing shelter) and I work within a public building that is deemed as a warming centre.
What the city is currently doing clearly isn’t working, and it isn’t enough. A proper shelter needs to be constructed for individuals that are homeless, or facing homelessness. But a building is only the beginning; these individuals need proper help and guidance. They need addictions counselling, resources to secure work, they need crisis/mental health help and intervention, and most importantly; they need a city who steps up to assist them with more than just a place to sleep.
People do not feel safe walking by our waterfront anymore. Citizens do not feel safe in public buildings that are deemed warming centres. People in the vicinity of homeless shelters do not feel supported, heard, or helped in any way. The idea of moving a homeless person into a building is just not enough for the person requiring assistance, and for the community as a whole. Better resources need to be put into place to properly assist these people, and we need to hope that this change happens soon… Otherwise, it’s only going to get worse.
Sara Racine, Cornwall
L’article I do not feel heard by politicians:
We need a proper shelter for homeless est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
