VANCOUVER - Residents near a controversial homeless shelter in a Downtown neighbourhood say they haven't heard a peep from city officials.
That's despite the fact it's been two weeks since the start of an apparent 30-day consultation process meant to determine the future of the shelter at 1442 Howe St.
"We were told that there would be some sort of consultation, that they would consult with the residents," said John Roberts, who lives close to the shelter.
In the meantime, reports of bad behaviour continue even after officials closed a neighbouring shelter on Granville, Roberts said.
"We're still having police come around on a routine basis," he said. "There is crack smoking, defecation, urination."
But it's taken this long to get the ball rolling, said Vision Coun. Kerry Jang, because city staff have been busy relocating people from the closed shelter.
City officials, however, are promising a full consultation.
"We want to make sure we do it right," Jang said. "We don't want to have a meeting where citizens just yell at you. We want to solicit actual feedback which is useful."
The city first opened five emergency shelters last winter, housing an average of 450 every night. But when Downtown south residents complained of persistent problems outside two of the shelters on Howe and on Granville, the province shut down the latter and put the former on probation.
Irwin Loy reports for Vancouver 24 hours.
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