In the debate over where to put emergency shelters, advocates take a stand against NIMBYism

A homelessness crisis is upon Canadian cities, and in an effort to make more progress on homelessness shelters and housing, a group of activists are petitioning Regina city council to ban NIMBYism from it's meetings.

Not In My Backyard or NIMBY is a term used by some advocates to describe people who don't want things like low-income housing, homelessness shelters or safe injection sites near their homes.

That set of beliefs came strongly into play at a Regina city council meeting in June, where a proposed emergency shelter location was debated for hours. The project was met with both support from the public, but also opposition.

Dustin Plett, a Saskatchewan United Party candidate and landlord, pleaded to council, saying he owns two rental properties that are metres from the proposed shelter location, and he raised concerns around crime and drugs.

Plett complained he just purchased two more lots and was going to build another 24 units, but said that wouldn't be the case if the city went through with this proposed site.

Council was ultimately swayed and voted against the potential shelter location, leading to frustration from other councillors who were pushing for the project.

Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens, whose ward covers the North Central neighbourhood where the shelter would have been, said "I think we collectively look like a bunch of morons." 

Ward 6 Coun. Dan LeBlanc said, "if we had a book about this council's approach to homelessness, it would be called 'Thoughts and Prayers.'"

A new potential location is set to be presented to the city's executive committee in September.

CBC's Blue Sky show dove deeper into this topic last Wednesday, talking to an anti-NIMBY activist, an apartment owner, a city councillor and an expert who, after studying NIMBYism, says she isn't a fan of the term.

Florence Stratton says she is one of 121 people who signed the petition that was delivered to Regina city hall that Wednesday. She says NIMBYism is a form of discrimination.

The petition aims to ban NIMBY-style language or commentary when discussing topics like homelessness, shelters or low-income housing. Stratton said the June council meeting included "derogatory comments made about unhoused people," and assertions that the shelter would bring more crime and vandalism to the area, and cause property values to fall — all commentary she categorizes as NIMBYism.

Stratton quoted Ontario's Human Rights Commission which states NIMBYism is a human rights issue, and "it happens when people hold negative attitudes or stereotypes about the people who live in affordable housing or use emergency shelters."

Stratton said she was compelled to start the petition because of the homelessness crisis.