From the freezing 15-year old boy to the 80-year old conned man – Seasons House executive director Shannon Croy said of the 202 guests they’ve served, only 23 were from out of town.

Croy was before council Monday, debunking myths, praising Seasons staff, sharing information and calling out council for denying the shelter’s tax exemption request.

The application came before council in early September requesting $4,000 in relief funding. It was denied.

City tax exemption policy guidelines state organizations may not receive full or even partial exemption from the city if:

• they receive income for activities/functions held in the facility that compete with private business;

• they do not conduct activities that benefit the community as a whole and do not need this financial assistance to continue operations;

• they receive the majority of funding from provincial/federal government sources;

• they provide a service normally provided by senior governments, unless occurring because of government total downloading; and

• their facilities are not accessible to the public, particularly youth and are not smoke-free.

However the other four requests council granted in mid September were:

• 55 per cent exemption on the buildings only for the Royal Canadian Legion;

• 90 per cent exemption for Seniors’ Centre;

• 100 per cent exemption for the top floor and proportionate parking space of the CDC’s new facility in the former Rigsby-Lee building; or

• a full exemption on the Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle bike park land.

Croy, at that time said “as a show of support they could have granted us a percentage as they did with two of the others.”

Monday, Croy pointed to the shelter saving taxpayers money.

“The high cost of homelessness in Canada results from the role of homelessness as a catalyst for many other social problems,” she said, pointing to malnutrition, unemployment, addiction, mental illness, family strife and lack of income security.

Croy said one solution lies with affordable housing, stating it could save taxpayers millions since it costs $66,000 – $120,000 per person to house someone in an institution (prison, detention and psychiatric hospital); $13,000 – $42,000 for emergency shelters; $13,000 – $18,000 for supportive or transitional housing and $5,000 – $8,000 for affordable housing without supports.

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“So had some members of council researched investments of government for housing they would actually see investing in affordable housing and the homeless is actually a saving to taxpayers,” Croy said.

She then highlighted Seasons House monetary commitment to the Gold Pan City, stating they have a list of 24 Quesnel businesses they purchase goods from.

Of their annual budget $650,000 goes into the local economy, through wages of 15 permanent jobs created and direct program needs which are purchased from local businesses, she said.

At the end of the fiscal year, she continued, more than $1 million has been brought into Quesnel’s economy, with an agreement of program funding for the next 30 years.

“I am curious as to what initiatives council is working on that will have a million dollar return in the first year and a guarantee of continuation for 30 years,” she said.

In September when council questioned the tax exemption application, Croy quickly pointed out if anyone “truly was interested in those answers” they could have contacted her.

“They didn’t,” she said.

And while the tax exemption deadline may have passed, Croy invited council to “get back on board” with their priorities of 2007 and look into the development of an affordable housing strategy.

“Not only as an elected official of Quesnel,” she said, “but as a member of its’ community.”

Council members thanked Croy for her presentation and agreed miscommunication played a major role in not only the denial of the application, but the ‘relationship’ between local elected officials and Seasons House.