The Region of Waterloo and Cambridge Shelter Corporation have decided to turn the former site of the Kinsmen Children's Centre into a covid quarantine and isolation site for the homeless. This location borders on and shares land with Coronation Public School.

The proximity to a public elementary school makes it a poor choice for ANY Covid+ quarantine. It is an especially poor choice to combine mental health and addiction concerns (an unfortunate reality for many experiencing homelessness) with a vulnerable, minor, and under-vaccinated population.

This was a slap-together decision made in the dark without ANY community consultation, including from the school, who's property it will sit on. This decision was made simply because the Region of Waterloo already owns this building and as it is sitting empty this would save them money trying to find a more suitable location for this need.

Our Preston community is very open to helping everyone to achieve a comfortable life - if we believe the decision will actually help and not cause more harm. This decision has not had the time or preparation needed to prepare the staff, children, parents, homeowners, senior centre and other community members. We have some grave concerns, including:

Though we recognize this is not true of everyone experiencing homelessness, there will be those in active addiction who experience homelessness and Covid; how will our children be protected from witnessing drug use or coming across drug paraphernalia? How will you prevent contact between these two populations with nothing but a chain link fence and staff to separate them?

Have you done your due diligence to protect our children by performing police record checks ensuring that those living on your centre have zero record of child abuse, especially sexual assaults?

Where will your residents be released after quarantine?

We demand that the Region of Waterloo and Cambridge Shelter Corporation find a more suitable location for this site that does not put our communities' children at risk.