*** If you are local, please sign our paper petition (or both).  While change.org helps by showing the city that this issue is important to a lot of people, they only accept legal paper petitions at City Hall.  Thank you for your support ***

Residents of Peterborough are concerned about the City's decision to operate a winter shelter at 161 Carnegie Avenue from November 2026 to April 2027 and the possibility that this temporary location could become permanent without sufficient planning or public review.

Our concerns include:

1. Unsuitable location for the unhoused - The Carnegie Fire Hall is located far from crucial supports needed by the unhoused.  This distance may create a barrier to access.
2. A lack of transparency in decision making - What other locations were assessed?  What decision criteria was used?  Why isn't this being shared with the public?
3. High costs without a long-term strategy - $576.6K for 6 months of temporary shelter.  Could $162K on transportation be better used to support the homeless?
4. Incomplete planning - What data supports this decision?  What happens to overflow when the shelter is full?  What is the plan for neighbourhood cleanup, increased police calls or neighbourhood education?
5. Temporary could become permanent - Past locations like Wolfe St. and Trinity were presented as temporary but became permanent shelters.
6. Impact on surrounding community - This residential area has a high population of seniors, children, young Trent students and is home to the Riverview Zoo.  Shelters should not be located beside vulnerable populations and children's spaces without thoughtful planning.  
7. Road safety - The Carnegie/Water/Cumberland intersection is already slated for reconstruction due to congestion and difficult turning maneuvers.  This shelter may increase pedestrian and vehicle traffic at night when turning visibility off Cumberland is already poor, and during morning rush hour.

1) NOT BEST LOCATION FOR THE UNHOUSED 

The Carnegie Avenue site is far from many essential support services, including healthcare, food programs, addiction services, employment supports, and social workers. This distance creates additional barriers for people experiencing homelessness and increases reliance on transportation.
The Carnegie Fire Hall has physical limitations that may make it unsuitable as a long-term shelter location. The building is relatively small, with sleeping spaces arranged in close quarters, and because the property is situated on a floodplain, opportunities for future expansion are limited (this is why the Fire Hall was moved). During its use as a temperature-dependent emergency shelter last year, portable washrooms were brought onto the site, suggesting that additional facilities may be needed to support expected occupancy. These factors raise important questions about whether the property can adequately meet long-term operational needs.

2) A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

Several members of Council stated that this location was not their preferred option but supported it because it was presented as the only viable site.  Questions about what other properties were considered and what criteria were used to evaluate them have not been clearly answered.

3) HIGH COSTS WITHOUT A LONG-TERM STRATEGY 

The approved operating budget for six months is approximately $576,600, including $162,000 for transportation. Residents question whether these funds could be invested in a more sustainable location that provides better access to services and reduces ongoing transportation costs.

Peterborough Winter Shelter Response Plan, Report CSSS26-006

4) INCOMPLETE PLANNING

The approved budget does not appear to include costs for community cleanup, additional policing calls, or community education.  No economic impact analysis on surrounding businesses or reduced tourism at the zoo has been shared.  Questions also remain about how overflow situations will be managed and whether additional transportation costs have been considered if the shelter reaches capacity.

5) A TEMPORARY SOLUTION COULD BECOME PERMANENT 

Although the shelter has been presented as a seasonal measure, the City has previously established temporary shelters that later became permanent (ie. Wolfe, Trinity).  Residents are concerned that if no one speaks up, a long-term decision could be made without a comprehensive evaluation of better alternatives.

6) IMPACT ON SURROUNDING COMMUNITY

The proposed location is adjacent to established residential neighbourhoods and close to the Riverview Zoo and Park - a popular destination for families and schools across the city, as well as for tourists. It is also home to many seniors, children, and young Trent University students. Decisions about shelter locations should carefully consider the needs and safety of all members of the community.

7) ROAD SAFETY AT AN INTERSECTION SLATED FOR RECONSTRUCTION

The Carnegie Fire Hall location is situated at an intersection that already experiences traffic congestion and challenging turning movements. The adjacent intersections are already slated for future improvements, suggesting existing capacity and safety concerns.  Introducing a shelter operation at this site could add further pedestrian and driving challenges - particularly at night where visibility is reduced turning left off of Cumberland onto Carnegie in front of the shelter location - and should be carefully evaluated as part of the City's planning process.

IN SUM

Residents recognize that people experiencing homelessness need safe shelter and meaningful support. The question is not whether these services should exist, but where they can be provided most effectively.
A shelter located on the edge of the city, far from many support services, may create unnecessary challenges for those who rely on daily access to healthcare, food programs, counselling, and other community resources. It may also require significant ongoing transportation costs to connect people with those services.

At the same time, shelter locations should be selected through a transparent process that carefully considers their impact on surrounding neighbourhoods and community spaces.
Residents are asking the City to begin planning now for future years by evaluating alternative locations and publicly sharing the criteria used to make these decisions.

OUR REQUEST

We respectfully urge the City of Peterborough to:

1. Conduct a transparent review of alternative shelter locations for future years, and to start now so there are no time-contraints.
2. Select a site that provides better access to essential support services for people experiencing homelessness.
3. Consider the impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods, children's spaces, seniors, students, and other vulnerable populations.
4. Develop a long-term strategy that reduces transportation costs and invests resources in meaningful support.
5. Share the evaluation process and decision-making criteria with the public.

People experiencing homelessness deserve access to sustainable, safe, effective services that help them rebuild their lives. The broader community deserves a planning process that is thoughtful, transparent, and data driven.

TAKE ACTION

By signing this petition, you are asking the City of Peterborough to identify a more appropriate long-term location for winter shelter services—one that better serves people experiencing homelessness while thoughtfully considering the needs of the surrounding community.
Please sign, share this petition, and encourage the City to pursue a solution that works for everyone.
Thank you for your support.

If you would like to contact the Mayor or members of City Council directly, their contact information is provided below.

Jeff Leal, Mayor of Peterborough
mayor@peterborough.ca,   705-742-7777 ext. 1870#

City Councillors Contact Information:
https://www.peterborough.ca/council-city-hall/mayor-and-council/