Cambridge city councillors have withdrawn a motion to ask the city to resolve a parking dispute that prevented a community health vehicle from parking outside Bridges Shelter.
Sangen has been parking its car on Market Street near the shelter since 2017, providing medical care, food and harm reduction supplies to vulnerable members of the community.
They stopped parking near the shelter after the city cited safety concerns and Councilman Scott Hamilton made a motion to have Sangen help find a solution.
If he had not retracted, a vote would have been held in Cambridge next week.
“We were told very quickly that homelessness, addiction and mental health issues are within Waterloo Region's jurisdiction,” Hamilton told CTV News.
He is pleased that his proposal has sparked debate but acknowledges there is nothing else he can do as the issue is now left to the community.
“We hope that this issue can be resolved as quickly as possible so that mobile health care providers can have access to the centre because we know there are residents out there who desperately need help that aren't getting it right now,” Hamilton added.
San Nguyen responds
Julie Kalbfleisch of Sangen Health Centre supports Hamilton's decision to withdraw the motion and commends him for his efforts to resolve the situation.
In a statement posted on Sangen's website, the group said: “The lack of accountability from the City of Cambridge on this issue demonstrates a lack of support for the services provided to homeless people. We believe that the parking issue could have otherwise been resolved collaboratively, as has been the case at stops in Cambridge and other areas where problems have arisen.”
Kalbfleisch believes the city could have done more.
“I think what was missing was no effort or willingness to help find a solution,” she said.
Hamilton hopes the city will listen.
“It doesn’t feel good to have service providers who are doing a great job being told they need to go the extra mile.
If so, we need to listen to them, think critically and do whatever we can to improve,” he said.
Kalbfleisch said San Nguyen's work is essential in terms of community outreach.
“We're talking about people who are frequently experiencing isolation and disconnection, yet who are suffering from very complex health issues that require attention,” she said.
The vans will no longer be parked near the bridge but will remain within the community.
“We continue to serve Cambridge from two locations: our food bank site and a new site that we've just started in Preston in the last month or so,” Kalbfleisch explained.
City of Cambridge responds
Cambridge says the city met with Sangen to discuss concerns and options.
“[The city] “We encouraged Sangen to explore parking options that comply with city ordinances and create a safe environment for customers,” a city of Cambridge spokesperson said in a statement.
They argue that while the city has no jurisdiction over the operation of community medical vehicles, it has received ongoing complaints that the vehicles obstruct drivers' views.
“This situation, combined with the high volume of pedestrian traffic from customers to the van, creates significant safety concerns for everyone in the area,” the statement continued. “Also, in the event of an emergency requiring access by emergency vehicles, the van would impede the ability of emergency vehicles to respond to the area.”
