The Greater Victoria School District should cover any costs it incurs as the result of a homeless shelter that has opened across the street from Central Middle School, the B.C. government says.
“If there are any additional costs, they should be covered from the contingency funds that school districts like Victoria set aside as part of their annual budgeting,” said a statement from the Ministry of Natural Gas Development, whose minister, Rich Coleman, is also responsible for housing.
“As of June 30, 2015, the Victoria school district had an operating surplus of close to $22 million.”
The first residents moved into My Place Transitional Home, located in the former Boys and Girls Club building across the street from Central Middle School, this week.
The school district has estimated that it could face costs of $43,950 over the next four months because of the shelter, which has room for 40 people. That total breaks down to $18,700 for a custodian to check the school grounds before and after classes, $17,000 for two crossing guards to provide a presence for students at the Yates Street crosswalk near the shelter, $4,250 for added security and $4,000 for administrative costs.
Diane McNally, vice-chairwoman of the school board, said the provincial government’s response to the district’s financial situation is “disingenuous” and doesn’t reflect what is really going on. There is not close to $22 million for the district to use at any time, she said.
“Some of that money is school savings and the district holds that in a district fund, we hold it for the schools. But schools have to save up to buy new computer infrastructure or computer hardware, they have to save up to buy books.”
District superintendent Piet Langstraat said the added costs linked to the shelter have not been budgeted for, meaning the money would have to be found by taking away from services to students.
Grant McKenzie, communications director for Our Place, the social agency operating the shelter, has said he thinks the school board may be overreacting and that any additional security it puts in place will likely be scaled back dramatically after a few weeks.
Our Place plans to work with shelter residents — homeless people who have been camping outside the courthouse on Burdett Avenue — and volunteers to clean up any discarded needles, he said.
School board trustee Tom Ferris said the shelter issue was the subject of extensive discussion by a board committee this week.
“Basically, everybody on the board is fine with this shelter,” he said. But the assumption that any needed cleanup around the school can be covered by volunteers causes concern.
“We can’t make that assumption,” Ferris said. “We’re a board, it’s our responsibility to look after these kids.
“And while everything may go fine, it’s our responsibility to make sure that things go fine.”
He said he is disappointed that the district wasn’t included in initial consideration of the shelter site. “It will cost us money and we just don’t have money to spare.”
