A local home and business owner in the Bay of Quinte area is claiming the fire that damaged his home was arson.
He has asked his identity be protected, out of concern for safety and damage to his property and business.
Quinte News will call him Joe.
On Canada Day, a fire destroyed two homes and damaged another in the south end of Belleville.
Joe, who had his home damaged, says it was arson.
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He also owns a business in the downtown and says he, along with many others, are fed up with the damage, trespassing, vandalism, and safety issues surrounding the unhoused in the city.
“The disrespect that they have for anybody’s belongings. The garbage they leave behind, the needles they just dispose of anywhere. I’ve got dogs, we’ve got friends, we got kids running around our neighbourhood. It’s just an unsafe environment that we’re living in, no one seems to be doing anything about it.”
He adds that it is not just the last few months, but the last four years there has been issues.
Audio Player“Years ago I never had to lock up anything, I left stuff outside, we didn’t have to worry about anybody breaking into stuff, but now you have to watch your back when you walk down the street. My wife is afraid to walk from work to home now because of the encampments.
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Joe added that he has shown compassion and concern for those suffering mental health and addiction issues, however he says there are many who are very brazen and disrespectful.
“They have no issue coming up and begging for money, or going in your dumpsters, or leaving a mess behind. It doesn’t look professional as a business and as a homeowner, you’re a bit threatened. You don’t feel comfortable living in your own home.”
He adds that his business has seen used needles and litter strewn on the ground.
The Bridge Street United location, where many unhoused spent much of their time, was near his business. Now, the Opiate Addiction Treatment Clinic is near his home.
Joe says much of the issue began when the The Grace Inn homeless shelter was opened.
Audio Player“100-percent. 100-percent. We never had this many people of no-fixed-address here, because they had somewhere to go. Yes at first they thought it would be a good thing, try to get them help. It turned into something we can’t control now. “
Quinte News has not received confirmation from emergency officials that the first was started by someone who was unhoused, however have reached out for an update to the fire.
