Residents hope moving outreach centre makes Euston Street safer; critics say move does nothing

The P.E.I. government's decision to relocate the provincial outreach centre in Charlottetown is drawing fierce criticism, with some Islanders saying the province is just kicking the can down the road.

Premier Dennis King announced Friday that the province intends to move the Community Outreach Centre from its current location on Charlottetown's Euston Street to a spot close to the city's Park Street temporary emergency shelter, near the Hillsborough Bridge.

The current location has been controversial, with residents complaining about property damage, fights and discarded needles.

During the announcement, King acknowledged there was "no ideal location" for the centre, but said the province is working hard to address residents' concerns.

Some people interviewed near the Euston Street location on Friday afternoon told CBC News they welcome the news.

"It's just a little unsettling for old people," said Susan Edwards. She said the Park Street shelter is "kind of away from things a bit, so I think it might be a bit better. I'd certainly feel a lot safer if it wasn't here."

"I think that's a good idea," said Bobby Hill. "But they're still going to have problems no matter where they go, because there's just too many people using."

Karson McKeown lives close to the Park Street shelter. He said having the overnight modular bedrooms nearby has already been causing problems for residents — and he worries adding the Community Outreach Centre to the location will make things worse.

"Nobody wants this in their neighbourhood. Definitely, I don't want that either," he said.

"Already, we see a lot of foot traffic and nuisance going on on this street, just with the shelter down there. And it's almost a little scary going down Euston Street, in front of the current outreach centre. So yeah, not a good thing."

The province's Official Opposition was quick to voice concerns over the decision after the announcement.

Interim Liberal Leader Hal Perry says the move won't make a difference.

"All they did was literally kick it down the road into another neighborhood," he said. "There needs to be a new model of delivery. What's presently available is not working."

Perry said "it doesn't make sense" to host people struggling with homelessness and those recovering from addictions in the same facility.