DETOX CENTRE SITE FACES OPPOSITION

A Red Deer mother fears for her children's safety should a 40-bed
detox/shelter open near her home.

Beverly, who didn't want her last name used, is appalled that Safe Harbour
Society wants to open a facility for drug and alcohol abusers in her
neighbourhood.

She would be most affected since her house would be about 12 metres from
the building's rear.

"Nobody wants it in their backyard and it's in my backyard," said the
tearful woman, who has young children. "You can't put it in a residential
area."

The society is eyeing a vacant building at 5409 Gaetz Ave. after business
opposition killed plans to open one in the downtown hub. The centre would
have 20 beds for short-term detox and an overnight 20-mat shelter.

Beverly's house is on 55th Street to the east of where the proposed detox
site. Although there is an open area between them, Beverly is concerned
about the people who would be hanging around.

She's deeply worried about her children and other youngsters who play in
the area.

"There's a lot of apartment buildings that people live in with children,"
Beverly said.

Beverly, along with boyfriend Michael Dawe, have owned the house for the
past three years. They say they've never had problems with addicted
individuals before.

Their vehicles have been broken into, but Dawe said that also happens in
the neighbourhood where he lives.

But Shane Young says the centre would be in a good spot because that's
where the need is great.

For 11 years, the devout Christian has ministered to people with addictions
out of his home. His house sits on 54th Street, one block to the south of
where the centre could go. He's seen people make drug deals regularly in
his alleyway.

"We already have the clientele here," said Young, who is also an artist.
"Now, if we were in the suburbs, then I'd say it would bring the criminal
element to the area."

But he can also understand those who oppose the location.

"I don't blame them," Young said. "I've lived with these guys."

He said it's not easy being around people with cocaine and other bad
habits. Often they are uncontrollable. They steal from him.

They are supposed to pay rent for a room, but don't always.

Young has seen some people recover, including the four individuals who are
currently staying with him.

Clarke Sheridan, who lives in a basement suite at 55th Street and 47A
Avenue, supports the site's location.

"I think most of the problems are hitting people's homes anyway," he said.
"It's better to get the problem dealt with instead of trying to hide it."

A resident a few doors down wasn't keen on the idea.

"I'm not sure I'd want it in my neighbourhood," said the man, who didn't
want his name used.

An open house will be held next month to gather public input on the latest
proposed site. The date has not been set.

But Beverly and Dawe wonder why the society didn't consult with area
residents before it announced the site. They have lots of unanswered
questions, including what happens if the overnight shelter is full early in
the evening.

"If five more people show up, then where do they go," asked Dawe.

Controversy on the site's location started in the fall. The society had
initially wanted to put the centre in the Scott Block at 4816 Gaetz Ave.

Some business owners opposed that site because they were concerned about
safety problems, loitering, loss of business and declining property values.

Similar issues are being raised at the latest site.

Safe Harbour Society board officials were unavailable for comment on
residents' concerns.

Society project manager Jim Taylor would only say that "the second proposed
location has a much lower number of neighbours."

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission will provide the society with
$750,000 annually to run the facility. The dollars don't cover capital costs.

Currently, Safe Harbour is running a 20-mat shelter during the winter at
4712 51st Ave., not far from proposed site. This would shut down when a new
year-round shelter opens.

Safe Harbour hopes to present its proposal to the city's municipal planning
commission in late January or early February.

The commission is responsible for making a decision on the centre's
location.