Advocates for the unhoused will gather outside Hastings County headquarters in Belleville on Thursday morning, calling on council to support the creation of a proper homeless shelter in Bancroft.
The public demonstration is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at 235 Pinnacle St., coinciding with councillors’ arrival for the council meeting.
Co-organizer Chris Houston, along with fellow Bancroft resident Sherwood Hines, will then address Hastings County council, presenting their case for proper services for the unhoused.
Houston says the northern part of the county is in urgent need of dedicated shelter infrastructure, with advocates calling on the county to support a year-round, 24/7 shelter.
“It’s interesting that we will be meeting in Belleville, because that is a city that is in a state of official emergency as a result of drug toxicity and homelessness. And yet, North Hastings has a higher rate of homelessness than Belleville,” Houston said.
“We will be there, calling on politicians to do something — and the specific thing we want them to do is to provide a proper shelter.… We implore them to take that action.”
Bancroft currently lacks a full-time facility. Its main local resource is an overnight warm room that only operates during the coldest months of the year, leaving the unhoused with no supports, or those that are temporary or inadequate.
Anyone who is interested in attending the demonstration is encouraged to join.
You can learn more here.
An open letter and petition calling on the County and neighbouring municipalities to support a shelter for the unhoused has already gained over 400 signatures online and in person.
You can find it here.
