Ontario Construction News staff writer
The council-endorsed strategic advisory group on downtown Guelph has released plans, laying out potential tasks and solutions to keep the area “welcoming and safe”.
The operational plans provide a high-level, tactical roadmap to achieving the objectives of the six priority areas. Priorities are:
- accelerating permanent supportive housing
- expanding daytime and overnight services and facilities
- enhancing safety
- strengthening resilience and prevention
- making service changes for acute needs
- advocating for policy and system change including funding from upper levels of government
“The Advisory Group remains focused on tangible actions to address the issues facing people our downtown core. We’ll keep City Council, other levels of government, and the community updated on plans to unite around these stated short, medium, and long term steps and our progress,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie.
The next step for the group is to develop detailed activities and tasks to be shared with council and the public.
“Navigating the many systems of services, government jurisdictions and folks tasked to intervene on the issues we’re discussing has been a challenge,” said councillor Added Shakiba Shayani.
