Liberal MLA calls for government to take over Community Outreach Centre
CBC
Liberal MLA Gordon McNeilly is calling on the government to immediately take over operating the Community Outreach Centre in Charlottetown.
McNeilly raised the issue in the legislature on Wednesday, after he said he heard that the Salvation Army was backing out as the current operator.
"Earlier today I heard that the government is in talks about the Salvation Army's role in the Outreach Centre, so I wanted to ask the minister about that and didn't really get a clear answer," the MLA told CBC News after question period.
"It's definitely needed in our community."
Minister of Social Development and Housing Brad Trivers did not clearly answer McNeilly's question about the Salvation Army's ongoing role in centre management — or confirm if it was stepping back.
"The working group, of course, is the one that manages the relationship with the operating partner, and what I understand is that the operating agreement would require three months' notice if it was going to be broken," Trivers later told CBC News.
"I haven't heard that that is underway or anything. I don't sit on the working group."
CBC News reached out to the Salvation Army and it said it would not comment on the future management of the centre.
"The Salvation Army is dedicated to not only the Outreach Centre, but also all programs we offer through homelessness services for those experiencing homelessness," said Lt. Kyron Newbury in an email.
"We are committed to supporting and walking along side any in need in the city of Charlottetown."
The pilot project was introduced in the winter of 2020 and the facility has had four homes in that time. McNeilly said government has failed to share information about the program with the legislature.
"This was supposed to be a pilot program. I don't know when it was starting, when it was ending," McNeilly said.
"We haven't even seen the contract between the Salvation Army and the government. So we've got to make sure that the services are provided, there's an evaluation component and that we can get that data that [government is] talking about."
The centre has been a source of controversy in recent months, since moving to its current location in the former Charlottetown curling club in June.
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