There are two emergency housing shelters in Elliot Lake, but the proponents want to add two more homes to offer transitional housing.
Maplegate shelter operators will discuss the matter with Elliot Lake’s Bylaw and Planning Committee at a special meeting tonight.
Elliot Lake Women’s Group Incorporated wants to convert existing homes at 143 Frobel Drive and 7 Diefenbaker Court to housing, one for women, the other for men.
Maplegate Executive Director Melody Rose says the rezoning would allow for more transitional housing while also taking pressure off the emergency shelters they already operate.
If approved, both new buildings would need site-specific zoning changes before being allowed to operate and public hearings would also be part of the process.
The meeting will be live-streamed on the City of Elliot Lake website, at 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.
The plan is for the 143 Frobel home to be used by women who are residents of the present centre and are looking to move out of Maplegate but face multiple barriers including long waitlists, to obtain affordable housing.
Rose adds the creation of the women’s transition home will relieve pressure on Maplegate for emergency requirements. She says the new home has five bedrooms, there is a washroom on each level and two entrances and will be fully furnished. The rent agreements would include hydro, cable, internet, gas heat and a landline telephone. There are security cameras for this site monitored by Maplegate.
A similar request to allow for the creation of the four-bedroom men’s shelter in a home at 7 Diefenbaker Court will be reviewed by the committee as well.