Business owners raise concerns around sober living facility downtown

Applicants seeking treatment will have to sign a rental agreement and stay committed to staying sober. It will be a dry facility, no alcohol or drugs will be allowed. The facility is staffed and supervised 24 hours a day.

Councillor Darren Hirsch says it’s been a challenge to find a suitable location for the facility. Last year, an application from the Mustard Seed for a 25-bed emergency shelter in the same area was withdrawn following feedback from the community.

“This application is totally different for the services that they are looking to do. There are rental agreements for people that will be living in the upper residential areas and there is some programming that’s going to be offered down below,” says Hirsch.

CHAT News spoke with several business owners along N. Railway St. A large portion say they want to make sure people have access to the help they need and understand the facility is important for the community.

However, they raised concerns about safety in the area. Many of them question how effective a sober living facility will be within close proximity to three neighborhood pubs, The Mainliner Pub, the Cecil and the Corona.

Darwin Bernhart owns Midnight Rider Custom Coverings Inc. and is concerned about increased crime and loitering.

“Yes, it is a concern for our neighbors. We try to run a clean neighborhood. There is a dance studio and children’s facilities on these streets and although some of the people definitely need help this isn’t the place. This isn’t where we feel they need to be,” said Bernhart.

Hirsch says the city and the Mustard Seed need to share the responsibility for any impacts that would spill into the streets. They are working with police to develop an action plan to address any issues, should they occur.

However, Hirsch says this facility is different from a temporary shelter, and users of the facility are seeking help to beat their additions and become a contributing citizen within the community.

“How do we ensure that issues or perceived issues by business owners are addressed and I’ll be certainly championing that knowing that there are concerns out there,” says Hirsch.

“I think it’s incumbent upon myself and this council to make sure that those are listened to and addressed the best way we know how,” adds Hirsch.

The sober living facility has been approved however no date has been set on when the Mustard Seed will begin accepting applications.

by Brendan Miller

Business owners raise concerns around sober living facility downtown

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