Maple Ridge daycare owner says shelter would force her out of business
Posted August 23, 2016 12:23 am.
Last Updated August 23, 2016 12:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) — The owner of a Maple Ridge daycare says she would have to shutter her shop if a proposed homeless shelter is built next door.
Lyanne Alexander says she was shocked when the city announced plans to purchase the empty lot next door to her Meadow Ridge Centre for Child Care for $1 million and build a permanent low-barrier shelter.
She says parents have warned that if the shelter goes up, they’ll pull their kids out of the child care centre.
“Every family has said they don’t want this here. It’s not the best location. Our kids are going here. It’s not safe. If this does go through would support you guys as much as we can but in the end we would have to find care elsewhere.”
She says as a mother of two, she understands the parents’ concerns and adds they already find the occasional needle in the parking lot.
“I wouldn’t want my kids to see that either you know. At such a young age, to have to explain to them why there are needles on our floor, why there’s garbage in our playground, why there’s people who are living in the bushes and trashing it and having tents, I know that we would have to close.”
Maple Ridge residents are divided on the shelter issue, with petitions both in favour of and against the plan.
The proposed $15 million facility would be built by BC Housing at 21375 Lougheed Hwy and would replace a temporary shelter run by Rain City Housing which currently houses 40 people.
The idea and location of the shelter has divided the community with petitions both for and against it.
