Council debates whether to move ahead with casino-funded 24/7 shelter
North Bay council is debating using $3 million from casino revenue to fund a 24/7 homeless shelter, facing concerns about a lack of planning.Summary
North Bay city council held a discussion during a budget meeting regarding the potential use of $3 million in revenue from Cascades Casino to fund a new 24/7 low-barrier homeless shelter. While Mayor Peter Chirico argued the city cannot wait for provincial funding for a Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub, several councillors expressed concerns about the proposal being “undercooked” and lacking a detailed business plan, including operator details, location, and community benefits. Some questioned the need for a duplicate service given the existing Northern Pines shelter operated by DNSSAB. Coun. Jamie Lowery specifically criticized the inclusion of the project in the budget without sufficient planning, while Coun. Mark King, chairman of DNSSAB, expressed skepticism about operational funding and suggested prioritizing support for existing services like the Northern Pines summer program. The mayor emphasized the urgency of addressing homelessness and the need to proceed even without immediate provincial funding.
(Source：The North Bay Nugget)