The Stepping Stone, a shelter for homeless men in Guelph, has suddenly closed its doors. Drugs appear to be the cause.
The director of the charitable agency that runs the shelter said complications related to drug use and other issues forced the temporary closure.
Guelph’s growing crystal methamphetamine problem has, at times, created an unsafe atmosphere at the shelter.
Gail Hoekstra, director of Drop In Centre, an agency under the auspices of Loretto Sisters, said the closure could last up to three weeks. It appears the current staff of the shelter have been let go.
She said people become homeless for a number of reasons related to life challenges and changes. But many who find themselves without a home struggle with addiction and mental health problems.
“A new wave of crystal meth has created some change in how we deliver our shelter program,” she said. “We have to think about safety, and about how to deliver it the best way.”
She said there is a small “risky group” of addicts that tends to end up in the shelter, which is an emergency, last resort type of facility where men can stay for up to 21 days, receiving referrals to social workers and community services, as well as mental health, addiction and financial assistance, if necessary.
“We just have to deliver the program differently and really think about how to come together as a community and deliver it in the best way,” she added. “I’ve reached out to all the mental health and addiction partners, the county and other shelters, to say, how can we all support something like The Stepping Stone in the best way.”
She stressed that the closure is not permanent.
“We are just closing for the short-term,” she said. “It will be as quick a turnaround as possible, so two to three weeks.”
She said there are concerns about the shelter’s programming and the best way to deliver it.
“There are various concerns internally, as well as coming from the community,” she explained. “So we decided to have a close-down, making sure everyone has a place to be, and redevelop and define how we deliver shelter services, and re-staff.”
Hoeskstra said a plan has been developed in conjunction with Guelph Police and Wyndham House, another Guelph agency that serves the homeless.
“Anyone needing shelter, we will be using our motels,” she said. “We have always used motels as our overflow. We’ve talked to the motels, have made a plan, and anyone needing housing throughout the night – which is usually a referral from police – we have a motel that will accept the police bringing people in.”
Wyndham House will take all of the younger adults that normally access The Stepping Stone.
“Crystal meth is a big problem in Guelph,” Hoeskstra added. “That population is really struggling. And so we really have to change our programming to meet the needs of our homeless population, to staff it and support it in the best possible way.”