Andrea Schurman, the Winter Street men’s shelter manager in Summerside, is accustomed to the shelter consistently being at full capacity, with all 10 beds occupied most nights. She mentioned that there is typically a waitlist of around four to five individuals, indicating a need for more services in the Summerside area.
Since the autumn of 2024, Summerside has had a 10-bed emergency shelter, which has been beneficial in aiding those in need. Elysha Whitlock from The Village Summerside highlighted the positive impact of the emergency shelter but expressed concerns about its consistent full capacity since June, making it challenging to meet the community’s demands.
While the province stated it has no immediate plans to expand the shelter’s capacity, overflow beds are made available in emergencies. However, Whitlock stressed that these resources may not always suffice, emphasizing the necessity for expansion to address the ongoing need for additional supports.
Schurman emphasized the collaborative efforts among shelters across the Island to enhance services by improving communication among organizations and social service providers. She underlined the importance of ensuring no individual is left without a safe place to stay by coordinating access meetings and working closely with other service providers.
Both advocates acknowledged the positive step taken with the opening of the emergency shelter in Summerside but emphasized the need for further action. Schurman advocated for increased focus on mental health supports, while Whitlock suggested potential solutions such as partnerships with community organizations and maintaining consistent 24-hour operation of the emergency shelter.
In contrast to Summerside, the provincially operated emergency shelter on Park Street in Charlottetown has not faced the same capacity challenges, operating at 76% capacity as of November. The province reported that 67 individuals were placed into housing in 2024, with a focus on expanding supportive, non-profit, and affordable housing options.
Looking ahead, the P.E.I. Housing Corporation aims to transition the Park Street Shelter to be run by a non-profit organization, aligning with the operational model of most shelters on the island. The shift towards more transitional and supportive housing units and comprehensive support services aims to redirect individuals away from emergency shelters towards stable housing solutions.