Maple Ridge businesses oppose location of new homeless shelter

Some Maple Ridge businesses are angryoverthe location of the new emergency shelter.The temporary emergency shelter,operated by RainCity Housing,will open it's doors on October 1st.

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"Put a permanent shelter that is not going to impact thedowntown core that is already crumbling and falling apart," saidsaidRobertJeglumof CB Yard Services at a forumlast night about the new shelter,"put something on the outskirts."

RainCity Housingsays whileapermanent shelter would be great, they need to take swiftaction torelocate thehomeless residents of a camp that sprung up along Cliff Avenue last May, and this was the best location they could find.

Jeglum fears customers will be deterred from shopping in the area. He suspectstheft, vandalism and drug use will risebecause of the40-bed temporary shelter that will be located in a former Sleep Shop building locatedon 222nd and Lougheed Highway.

But operators of the shelter say that won't be the case.

"The basic needs are met within that site, so the chances are the stability and quality of life is obviously going to improve," saidSean Spear,associate director ofRainCity Housing,

Homelessness has been an ongoing issue in Maple Ridge.

Recently,Maple Ridge asked B.C. Housing to end a contract with the city's Salvation Army branch, claiming the current shelter did not provide adequate services for the city's burgeoning homeless population.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled Maple Ridge business oppose location of homeless shelterwiththe CBC's Rick Cluff onThe Early Edition.