City eyes extending homeless encampment depots for at least a year

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What’s often seen as a Band-Aid solution to London’s homelessness problem would stick around a little longer under a staff report heading to politicians next week.

Four depots serving homeless people living in encampments would continue until July 2025 at a cost of $692,000 or until March 2026 at a cost of $1.2 million, depending on which, if either option, councillors support.

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Almost 600 people live without shelter in London, city staff estimate.

“The volume of individuals sleeping rough and in encampments has been on the rise and so too is their level of despair, hopelessness, and declining physical health. These impacts of experiencing homelessness have stretched resources in the community beyond current capacity,” says a city staff plan for encampments.

The plan and a second document, an overall encampment strategy, are heading to council’s strategic priorities and policy committee June 18.

Encampments weren’t front and centre when community leaders and city officials unveiled more than a year ago a new system for helping the most vulnerable homeless Londoners.

The new system marries health care to housing in both 24/7 shelter hubs and highly supported housing units.

But those hubs and housing are taking time to develop, while the conditions fuelling homelessness – such as high rents, inflation and stagnant social assistance rates – continue.

The city and community organizations set up and staffed four depots in parks near encampments last summer, with one operating in the winter. Between July 2023 and April 2024, staff at depots delivered 19,183 meals kits and 65,595 water bottles.

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One depot will remain at Watson Street Park with the other three locations to be determined later.

The basic needs plan describes how four depots, similar to those first used last year, will help people living in encampments.

The depots would offer:

– three meals a day and snack options

– drinking water

– fire prevention education and supportive monitoring

– access to washrooms and/or comfort stations

– provision of showers through the Salvation Army Centre of Hope shower program and other places

– harm reduction supplies

– garbage cleanup

– housing and other social supports

The plan also breaks down the costs of the depots:

– three meals a day, seven days a week for 120 individuals at $12 a person: $18,000 per month

– outreach seven days a week to provide all basic services such meal delivery: $20,850 per month.

-five comfort stations: $2,500 per month

-water distribution: $1,800 per month

– basic needs supplies: $2,500 per month

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