The City of Hamilton has put a hiatus in housing homeless couples in its temporary emergency shelter spaces in hotels due to increasing reports of domestic violence.
In a statement Tuesday, the housing services division said the penalty is “temporary” pending a security review of its admission procedures.
“To ensure that it can continue to accommodate people in need of shelter, the temporary emergency shelter located in a city hotel will focus on increasing space for single women and will ask men to access available spaces in the system. of men, “the city said in a statement.
“Couples who wish to develop joint housing plans to secure permanent housing together will be supported to do so. This existing process allows for the consideration of safety and risk assessments for couples who want access. “
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The limits went into effect on December 7, following multiple incidents of concern reported by providers in the past two weeks.
An upcoming safety assessment of the couples emergency shelter policy is expected to involve counseling from indigenous partners, the Women’s Housing Planning Collaboration, and the Violence Against Women sector.
The existing emergency hotel shelter system for couples was implemented during the pandemic due to increased need.
Between January 2020 and September 2021, about 485 households representing more than 1,000 people have had to be housed by the city due to homelessness, according to the municipality.
The temporary expansion of shelter space was moved from 341 to 507 beds plus additional overflow space, as well as a new temporary women’s shelter operated by Mission Services.
“Temporary emergency shelters in city hotels do not have the resources to adequately support couples experiencing domestic violence, nor those experiencing acute mental health problems and addictions,” the staff revealed in their statement Tuesday.
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