New additions to the mission with the hope of cleaning up the downtown area.

 By Joelle Brassard

City councilman Renaldo Agostino of Ward 3 has proposed some new additions to the outside area of the Downtown Mission to improve the overall quality of the area.  

New additions include portable washrooms, lighting, fencing and garbage cans. 

“Bringing in these elements of these things that you would do for any kind of crowd management system will help the situation there greatly, especially for the residents that live in the area and the people who need the services and supports of the mission in general,” said Agostino. “Adding those additions takes away some of the problems.”  

These additions are supposed to be just the beginning of the plans for the Downtown Mission. 

“I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re the most important additions but they’re certainly ones we can do right now,” said Agostino. “What I don’t want to have to do is wait and wait, what I want to do is help as much as I can as quickly as I can.”  

As for long-term goals, Agostino and the Downtown Mission would like to move to a new location near the future Homeless and Housing Help Hub (H4). 

Some residents of the downtown area feel as though the homeless population downtown has gotten worse since the addition of the mission.  

“I live in a bit of a hot-spot for the homeless population since I’m right by the Downtown Mission and a lot of abandoned buildings,” said downtown resident Irelynn Maloney. “I see a lot of people’s lowest moments from my own bedroom window. There’s been a huge boom since the pandemic compared to a few years ago and it’s really traumatizing and depressing.”  

Residents also recognize the problems mentioned are a sign of a greater issue. 

“Living downtown, I am constantly reminded about our ever-growing homeless population,” said downtown resident Cameron Chamberlain. “The amount of people sleeping at bus stops and in buildings makes me sad. People will say that this makes our city unsafe, but I believe that it just brings to our attention how many people need help.”  

The proposed additions to the mission are meant to address the concerns of people in the area and slowly improve the conditions for the homeless population.