“Not criminals”: ​​a user defends a homeless support center

A young man who says he is getting his life back on track thanks to a community center in Charlottetown spoke at a citizens’ meeting, which was attended by a large number of people who want to see the place move.

I’m only 20, I could be your sonlaunched Austin Crabbe at the assembly, composed of approximately 150 citizens gathered at Eastlink CentreWednesday early evening.

At 18, his parents threw him out on the street, he said. My family abandoned me two years ago. I found myself in this situation. I feel like I’m nothing and worthlesshe said.

He explained that someone told him about Community Outreach Centrehas Charlottetown. He was told it was a place he could go to get help for his mental health and substance abuse issues.

Austin Crabbe said he was preparing to move into his own apartment in December. He hopes to be set on the path to success, and certainly believes he is in a better position now to move forward in life.

In the room, people were moved to tears by the testimony ofAustin Crabbe. A woman shouted to him: It’s not true that you’re worthless.

This year, the government of Prince Edward Island moved the Community Outreach Centre from the street Euston on the street Parkhas Charlottetownwhere we also built an emergency shelter, made of modular units, for homeless people.

Citizens organize a meeting

The testimony ofAustin Crabbe was delivered during an assembly organized by citizens concerned about the presence of the center and the shelter. Wednesday evening, neighborhood residents took the microphone to criticize the presence of these facilities.

My children, they are afraidlaunched Crystal Pirch.

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The resident said she found syringes and pipes for smoking crack in the area.

She said her children, ages 4 and 5, no longer play on the lawn in front of their home because of it.

Challen MacPhailanother resident of the area, says he no longer feels safe outside.

In an interview after the citizens’ meeting, he said that some of his neighbors had moved or were looking to do so.

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Crystal Pirch affirms that she does not oppose the presence of the center.

She wants significant changes, so she feels safe in her community again.

I would like to see the center do better, or moveshe said. I just want better for the community, my children, all the children in the community.

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I could wholeheartedly support this place if it did what it promised, if the people who go there actually get the help they needsaid for his part Challen MacPhail.

This is why the young Austin Crabbe insisted on being present on Wednesday.

This is not a place for bad criminalshe declared in an interview after the session.

These are people who are sincerely trying to get out of their situation. That’s why I came here to share my story, because we’re not that bad [qu’ils le disent]he said.

The City has a decision to make

To accommodate the center Community Outreach and the emergency shelter, the City of Charlottetown had authorized zoning exemptions. These exemptions end in December for the shelter and in March for the center.

The province requested an indefinite extension in both cases last summer.

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The government is waiting for a response, but the new provincial housing minister, Steven Myersmade comments this month that irritated several citizens.

The minister said the center would remain on the street Parkwhether Charlottetown city councilors agree or not. He won’t move, end of storyhe said dryly.

However, municipal council has not yet voted on the zoning exemptions requested by the Prince Edward Island government.

According to the report of Wayne Thibodeau