A delegation at Orangeville Council's next meeting will be armed with a petition demanding action concerning Baywinds, a former motel at 236 First Street that provides shelter for disadvantaged individuals who, otherwise, might end up homeless.

The petition, which has about 160 signatures so far, calls for action to ensure the building is structurally safe, adheres to safety regulations and that some of its residents be monitored by properly trained personnel.

"I would like to know the mayor's current position on Baywinds," said one resident who will be in attendance at the Sept. 14 council session. "His position before was that (Baywinds) was doing a great service and, obviously it is not."

The resident, who asked not to be identified, said the facility is promoting "an unhealthy environment;" alleging that Baywinds is housing former prisoners as well as people with addiction and mental health issues.

She added that Baywinds should be focusing on one disadvantaged group and should have the right staff on hand to deal with them.

In 2007, Mayor Rob Adams said Baywinds was helpful, insofar as it gave housing, helped people "falling through the cracks," and provided aid that the Town or County couldn't provide.

His remarks at the time were backed up Tuesday by an official with the Peel Halton Dufferin branch of the John Howard Society.

"There is no real shelter for men in Orangeville," said Sandy Lovett, "and we have such a huge demand." She added that there is a five- to seven-year waiting period for a single person to obtain subsidized housing in Dufferin.

The John Howard Society has traditionally been dedicated to assisting former inmates, but Ms. Lovett says the organization has since spread out to help other disadvantaged individuals.

One such form of assistance, Ms. Lovett said, is to help them find affordable accommodation. The Society does point people to Baywinds, as it does to other less-expensive housing.

Since Baywinds is a privately run facility, the town has little or no say in its day-to-day operations. Its role is pretty well limited to ensuring Baywinds abides by local health and safety laws.

In February, the Orangeville Fire Department laid 28 charges against Baywinds, alleging multiple violations of the Ontario Fire Code. It was an unprecedented number laid by the department at a single address.

Some Baywinds supporters at the time suggested the charges were a calculated move on the town's part to force the facility to close.

Fire Chief Andy Macintosh denied the allegation in an interview Tuesday, pointing out that Baywinds has since fulfilled most of the fire safety requirements. What remains — and the facility has until the middle of September to comply — is that Baywinds install a special kitchen fire extinguishing system.

Baywinds also has until the middle of September to pay a $10,000 fine in relation to the charges.

"This is not a witch hunt to close the place down," said Chief Macintosh. "We want the people living there to be as safe as possible."