Ark Aid becomes flashpoint at OEV meeting [Video]

It was billed as a town hall style meeting to discuss solutions to social problems in the Old East Village — but the first of two community engagement sessions hosted by the Ark Aid Street Mission quickly became a flashpoint to air grievances about ongoing challenges in the neighbourhood.

“When the clients you serve throw crack pipes over my fence in my yard, and my four year old picks up a warm crack pipe and brings it to me asking me what it is, I have a problem with that,” said mother and OEV resident Stephanie Dellacelle. “When there is human feces down on their trampoline and they can’t jump on it, I have a problem with that,” she continued.

Dellacelle was among close to 100 community members, including residents, business owners, police, and social agency representatives who took part in the morning session hosted by the Ark.

Melissa Parson, …