Tomorrow (July 7), Coquitlam council is scheduled to vote on a bylaw amendment to allow three churches to offer seasonal emergency shelter to the homeless on a rotating basis in 2008-09.

The locations of the Cold Wet Weather Mat Program are at Calvary Baptist Church at 1636 Reagan Avenue; Coquitlam Alliance Church at 2601 Spuraway Avenue; and Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship at 1160 Lansdowne Drive.

However, the application from Hope for Freedom Society has encountered opposition from some residents who don't want the homeless in their neighbourhoods.

Other residents have spoken out strongly in favour of the bylaw amendment.

According to a Coquitlam staff report, 135 people were accommodated in the past fall and winter at the churches.

The churches are offering a temporary service until a decision is made about a permanent shelter on City-owned property at 3030 Gordon Drive.

A bylaw amendment is necessary to continue the program, which is operated by the Hope for Freedom Society.

Selina Robinson, a resident who lives within 100 metres of the Coquitlam Alliance Church, told council at a public hearing that the Hope for Freedom Society operated a well-designed program.

Rozola Starozta, on the other hand, spoke against the application, citing the following concerns in the Eagle Ridge area:

* wandering people with shopping carts

* items stolen from driveways and vomit on driveways

* visible pathways through the bushes and bicycles hidden under the bridge at Lansdowne and Barnett with a picture of a skull in the middle of the creek.

Sandra Cervantes, who lives a block from the Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship Church, also spoke against the application.

She cited concerns about schoolchildren having fears walking in the area, adding that she didn't want her neighbourhood to resemble Hastings Street in Vancouver.

Another nearby resident, Julie Silgailis, spoke in favour, saying that her 11-year-old son has asked to accompany her to the shelter to serve dinners.

Wendy and Raymond Chiu sent an e-mail to council saying the proposal will attract more homeless people to the neighbourhood, increasing "loitering, intimidation and crime".

"We're not against the homeless people getting help," the Chius wrote, "but we're against putting them in a neighbourhood where there are families, schools and young children."

They also expressed concerns about the impact that negative publicity could have on property values.

Michelle Ames, coordinator of the program at Calvary Baptist Church, wrote to council to say she found that the homeless people were "very appreciative" of the service at her church.

"There wasn't any loitering or lingering outside in the community, nor was there any drug use or violence," Ames maintained.

Staff have recommended that council give "consideration"--and have not recommended approval--to the amendment at second, third, and fourth readings at council tomorrow night.