The City of Maple Ridge has picked out a location for a much-needed homeless facility, but parents of the daycare located next door are worried about the plan.
More than 50 kids are cared for at a daycare just off the Lougheed Highway, owned by Lyanne Alexander. The Meadow Ridge Centre for Child Care is convenient for residents of the area, but Alexander is worried about what will happen if the shelter is built.
Already, parents have found needles, garbage and condoms just steps from the fenced-in area where the children play outside.
Squatters often spend the night in the vacant lot next door, leaving behind items that are cause for concern among parents. Alexander said toys are sometimes stolen from the daycare's yard, if they look like they may have value.
The situation is not ideal, but Alexander and residents of the area worry it's about to get worse.
The municipal government has purchased the lot, planning to build a permanent facility to replace a temporary homeless shelter nearby. The temporary shelter is located in an old mattress store, and is set to close in June 2017.
According to the city, the new shelter will work to rehabilitate members of Maple Ridge's growing homeless population.
BC Housing is responsible for the project, but has provided little information on its plan for the lot. In a statement, officials said the type of services and number of beds will be "based on community need," but that they are "still working through those details."
Without specific details, residents of the area are worried about how the new facility will change the neighbourhood.
Katie McElgun said she fears the crime rate will increase.
"My biggest fear is that my small children see this drug abuse and drug trade in our neighbourhood," she said.
"It's a recipe for disaster. It's not the right spot. It's not a good plan."
The province had initially planned to purchase a Quality Inn on the Lougheed Highway, but scrapped the plan over public outrage.
Most living in the area aren't opposed to a new shelter or new services, they're just hoping another location will be chosen.
"If you look at many of the models out there for recovery or rehabilitation centres, they are mostly set back or further out in the suburbs," Alexander said.
Public consultations will be held in the fall, with the city making the final decisions about what to do with the land.
With a report from CTV Vancouver's Jonathan Glasgow
