Lack of public washrooms threatens health and dignity

- by Hub staff

The following two letters were sent to the Mayor, City Manager and Chair of the River District Board of Management - formerly the Downtown Improvement Area (DIA). The latter had their monthly meeting this evening.

The letters themselves were not sent to all Board members nor provided with the meeting agenda, but access to public washrooms in the city core, particularly while City Hall is closed, was discussed. Pam Coulter, Director of Community Services, told the Board that the subject of safe, clean public washrooms and wayfinding signage will be part of future workplans for the River District. In the meantime the Board passed a motion to ask staff for a communications strategy to inform the public about what washrooms are open and when.

The letters were sent earlier this week. Response from the Mayor and City Manager is expected soon.

Dear Mayor Boddy:

I am writing on behalf of the members of the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce to urge the City to reinstate immediately supervised access by our homeless residents to City Hall washrooms. For this most vulnerable population, the lack of water and sanitation services due to Covid-19 restrictions is creating serious threats to health, safety, and dignity.

Chamber members understand that the City has not budgeted for this added expense and we respect your fiscal responsibility. But we view the provision and funding of this public service as essential. Moreover in the absence of washroom availability at City Hall the burden has shifted to local restaurants and stores in a piecemeal, haphazard, undignified and unsafe way. We believe that it is the role of government, not private organizations, to ensure that the human rights to water and sanitation are fulfilled for everyone.

Let me add that while this important issue has been exacerbated by the pandemic, once it has subsided there is a clear need for the City in collaboration with local social service agencies and businesses to address the washroom access challenge on an ongoing basis. The Chamber would be pleased to be a participant in such discussions.

We have copied this letter to the River District Board of Management for their information and support.

Sincerely, Diane Austin, CEO, Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce

cc. Councillor Brian O’Leary, Mr. David Parsons - River District Board of Management, Mr. Tim Simmonds, City Manager

Dear Mayor Boddy:

I am writing on behalf of leading social services agencies in the Owen Sound core asking that the City immediately provide access to public washrooms at City Hall. The lack of access is a serious threat to health, safety and the dignity of all city residents.

While the lack of public washrooms may be an inconvenience for the average person, it can be a serious problem for someone who is homeless. For this group, attending to basic human needs, such as going to the washroom, is a constant challenge. Furthermore, whereas a parent may be able to take a child into a coffee shop to use a washroom, people who are experiencing homelessness are often denied the same privilege because of their appearance or demeanour.

It is not the business community’s responsibility to provide the basic needs of life to the residents of the city.

We are copying this letter to the River District Board of Management and the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce to add voice to their concerns and their role as advocates for their business members along with their compassion for the residents of the city, regardless of housing status.

Signed
United Way of Bruce Grey – Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director
Owen Sound Family Y.M.C.A. – Sarah Cowley, Chief Executive Officer
Safe n Sound – Emily Wickens, Team Lead and Program Manager
CMHA Grey Bruce – Clark MacFarlane, Chief Executive Officer

cc. Mr. David Parsons - River District Board of Management, Ms. Diane Owen – Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce,
Mr. Tim Simmonds, City Manager

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