Some local residents are voicing their concern over a program aimed at helping the homeless escape the heat.
St.Catharines resident, Dan Maheu tells CKTB the Out of the Heat Program running at the Grace Church on Geneva Street has changed his neighbourhood and definitely not for the better.
He says the program's concept is wonderful, but it has attracted people to the neighbourhood who are shooting up drugs and throwing needles on the ground.
He has also witnessed people fighting and sleeping on the streets.
Maheu says the program should be moved to a non-residential area where children are not playing and people need to get to sleep to work the next day.
He is working with the Mayor and a City Councillor to address some of his concerns.
He says something must be done before someone gets hurt.
One of the founding Board Members of the Out of the Heat Program, Heather Morrison says the pilot program was a success over the summer helping 250 people.
Morrison is aware of some residents' concerns and says anytime you run a program like this you will get a response since there is a stigma surrounding the homeless.
She says safe boxes were available for people to dispose needles, and she says there was only one police call for a fight between clients over the two month period.
Now that the pilot project has wrapped up, the Out of the Cold Program is gearing up for 2018.