The housing and homeless shelter at 310 Division Street was a hot topic at the Northumberland County Social Services Committee on June 4, as two delegations presented very different views to politicians.
The committee received two reports. The first was a data analysis of statistics related to the shelter’s activities. The second was a report on a business survey done by the county.
Rebecca Carmen presented metrics, including 28 unique clients daily, 6.5 service restrictions per week, and three service providers daily. Committee chair John Logel and other council members discussed the need for timely data and the importance of qualitative data in understanding client experiences.
Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland emphasized the need for detailed comparisons of recent and historical data.
Local activist Chance Brown appeared as a delegation, stressing the human impact behind the numbers, advocating for more compassionate and effective support systems.
Margaret Taylor, a community member, addressed the Social Services Committee, criticizing the 310 Division Street business pulse survey for its limited one-week data collection period, lack of effective advertising, and flawed statistical methods. She noted a 12% response rate, which she corrected to 45% based on a 500-meter radius. Taylor accused the report of bias and questioned the survey’s design and methodology. She called for an investigation into the approval process of such reports.
Taylor’s presentation sparked a debate among politicians.
The committee received both reports for information.
Listen to both exchanges related to the two reports and see what you think.
In Their Words is a feature that allows people to listen to what is going on at the various councils within Northumberland. No spin. No opinions. No one is telling you what to think. Just what was said.
It is a chance you might not have otherwise to hear directly from your elected representatives. I hope you find it useful and informative.
The data report featuring activist Chance Brown
The business survey report featuring Margaret Taylor
