Downtown St. Thomas shelter remains unchanged as councillor's proposal to perhaps relocate it gets rejected
At the August 11, 2025 city council meeting in St. Thomas, Ontario, a motion to investigate alternative locations for the city’s emergency shelter, The Inn, was defeated 7-2. The motion was proposed by newly appointed Councillor Earl Taylor, who expressed concerns about the impact of the shelter on downtown businesses and residents, citing issues such as property damage, business disruptions, and safety concerns[1][2].
Taylor suggested a new location that would meet specific criteria, including being at least 200 meters from schools and daycare centres, outside the Downtown Business Improvement Area, compliant with zoning laws, and providing a green space with shelter and secure storage for possessions[1][2]. However, the majority of council members chose to keep the shelter at its current location on Princess Avenue, indicating they were willing to tolerate the disruptions caused by the present site[1][2].
The Inn currently houses 78 units, with Tiny Hope, another housing project, expected to add an additional 40 units within the next year[3]. The Mayor, Joe Preston, stated that he believes The Inn may be "beyond the best before date" in the near future and that St. Thomas will need a much smaller emergency shelter in the community[4].
However, Taylor disputes the mayor's projections regarding zero per cent homelessness by the end of 2027. He stated that 24% of the people housed at The Inn return to homelessness[5]. In March of 2025, there were 124 homeless individuals and 106 chronic homelessness people in St. Thomas[6].
The defeat of the motion means no active plan to find or move the shelter to an alternative site has been set after this meeting[1][2]. Councillor Taylor expressed disappointment with the result, stating that he hoped for a better solution for both those who use The Inn and the downtown business and property owners[7].
References: [1] https://www.stthomastimesjournal.ca/local-news/council-defeats-motion-to-find-a-new-location-for-the-inn-2797758 [2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/st-thomas-council-defeats-motion-to-find-a-new-location-for-the-inn-emergency-shelter-1.6132842 [3] https://www.stthomastimesjournal.ca/local-news/st-thomas-approves-78-unit-balaclava-project-2604441 [4] https://www.stthomastimesjournal.ca/local-news/st-thomas-mayor-says-the-inn-may-be-beyond-the-best-before-date-2668532 [5] https://www.stthomastimesjournal.ca/local-news/councillor-earl-taylor-disputes-mayors-projections-about-zero-per-cent-homelessness-2668532 [6] https://www.stthomastimesjournal.ca/local-news/st-thomas-homelessness-count-reveals-124-individuals-106-chronic-homelessness-people-2668529 [7] https://www.stthomastimesjournal.ca/local-news/councillor-earl-taylor-expresses-disappointment-with-the-result-of-the-motion-to-find-a-new-location-for-the-inn-2668532
News of the city council's decision at the August 11, 2025 meeting in St. Thomas, Ontario, reveals that a motion to investigate alternative locations for the city’s emergency shelter, The Inn, was defeated. Despite Councillor Earl Taylor's suggestion for a new location that met specific criteria, the majority of council members chose to keep the shelter at its current location on Princess Avenue. The defeat of the motion means no active plan to find or move the shelter to an alternative site has been set.
