Horizons at 106: Former hotel now fully staffed as transitional housing space
Facility has about 75 residents consistently, with capacity for 100
It's been over a year since the Newfoundland and Labrador government announced it would be leasing a hotel in St. John's as a new transitional housing facility.
The facility — Horizons at 106 — had 73 residents as of Feb. 24 and successfully put 14 people into permanent housing.
John Abbott — the former housing minister who has resigned from cabinet to run for leadership of the province's Liberal Party — provided an update on Monday in the House of Assembly.
"The program is working. We are providing the supports that they need in a transitional housing facility," he said. "We will continue to invest in it and we have also looked at that model and how we can apply that across the province."
However, advocate Mark Wilson says he has heard from some of the facility's residents, who say they have concerns about the number of security guards and access to visitation. He also said several people have submitted applications to live there and are still waiting on an answer.
Wilson also says the hotel is an expensive Band-Aid solution.
He said the provincial government is spending $13 million a year for the building's lease and facility operations. That number divided by 87 — the number of people who have lived in the facility in the last year — works out to be roughly $155,000 per person.
"You could buy a home here in this community for $220,000," said Wilson, pointing to the boarded up empty public housing unit behind him on Livingstone Street.
"I think the houses here that are owned by N.L. Housing would probably house roughly 40 people."
Facility in full swing
But Horizons at 106 is in full operation.
Simone Lilly, senior director of community investments at End Homelessness St. John's, says the progress has been incredible.
"We're really thrilled to see, kind of, the project itself sort of now kind of reach its potential," she said, adding that the facility demonstrates the transition pathway for individuals stuck in the shelter system.
"We're able to really work with folks to tackle some of those roots of the issues."
The facility is fully staffed, with full-time and casual support workers, security, hospitality staff, health staff and administration.
There is also now an area with computers and support needed to help individuals take the first step on their housing journey. Staff also help individuals with getting a government ID or with their taxes.
They have other kinds of programming like recreation, resume clinics, budgeting and time management workshops.
In terms of health-care services, residents have their needs assessed upon arrival. They then receive support through the facility's primary care clinics, blood collection services, occupational therapy and on-site social worker.
Lilly said health-care supports don't end when residents leave Horizons.
"We set someone up for success so their health needs could then continue to be supported," she said.
The building has a capacity of 100 residents, and has steadily had around 75.
Lilly says they're constantly evaluating their ability to take on more people.
"We'd like to see 100, but I also want to make sure that whoever's there on site is feeling comfortable and the building can truly support that individual," she said.
More housing stock needed
With waitlists for housing and emergency shelters full across the city, Lilly says Horizons has played a role in unclogging the system.
However, she says more housing stock is needed to solve homelessness.
"I think we can't ignore the fact that there is a housing crisis that doesn't change … with one project like Horizons," said Lilly.
Wilson says transitional housing, like Horizons, is only part of the solution, but isn't sure if it is helping tackle the housing crisis.
He says he's also concerned about what will happen to the facility when the lease is up in December, 2026.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, End Homelessness St. John's executive director Doug Pawson said the group is going to keep working with the government about what the future of Horizons will look like.
"The goal is to continue housing and supporting folks, but knowing there's such a demand in shelter suggests this option can be transformative for those who most need additional health and housing support," Pawson said.
CBC News asked the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation if it had an idea about what will happen when the lease is up.
In a statement, spokesperson Marc Budgell said it is too early to make any decisions.
"Horizons at 106 is a temporary interim measure while we are creating other long-term transitional and supportive housing options. This includes the recent expansion of The Gathering Place, which has begun accepting residents," Budgell said.
Community consultations requested
Wilson thinks there hasn't been enough public consultation by the government to come up with ways to tackle homelessness.
WATCH | Mark Wilson wants to see accessible, long-term solutions to the housing crisis:
"I can't think of any public consultation processes or meetings where the government has actually come out and said 'what can we do here?'" he said.
PC MHA Joedy Wall also called for a public consultation in January, but it was aimed at the concerns from neighbourhood residents about an alleged rise in criminal activity in the area.
Lilly said some of those problems have nothing to do with Horizons, but that End Homelessness St. John's is open to participating in a neighbourhood meeting.
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