City’s encampment strategy lists places that would be off-limits

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City hall is stepping up with a new strategy to deal with homeless encampments, a welcome first step, some say, but sparks are still expected to fly as politicians weigh in for the first time.

The proposed strategy lays out policies such as what is and isn’t allowed within encampments, and areas and properties in the city where encampments are not allowed and would be immediately torn down.

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The strategy is one component of the city’s whole-of-community response to homelessness that includes supportive housing and hubs offering transitional housing and health supports.

“The (plan) is part of a strategic implementation pathway that acknowledges and champions an appropriate response to the encampment situation in London, recognizing the need to focus on housing solutions while providing interim safe and appropriate measures that support basic human needs until people can exit homelessness,” a staff report reads.

The report emphasizes the need to “guard against preventable deaths” through basic needs such as food and water, but also to provide case management to people with complex needs, while also addressing concerns both on and around encampments.

Under the strategy, encampments would be banned on public streets, sidewalks, bike paths, the Salvation Army building, both city parking lots in Old East Village, environmentally sensitive areas, and several of the city’s most popular parks including Victoria Park, Harris Park and Springbank Park.

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It also lays out protocols to support safety, including banning open burns, human trafficking and brandishing weapons, limiting the number of tents on site and preventing minors from living in tents.

“This is not a plan to promote how great encampments are, because they’re not,” Kevin Dickins, deputy city manager of social health development, told a public consultation session in May. “This is really a strategy and a plan to acknowledge that we have far more people experiencing unsheltered homelessness … than we do homes and indoor spaces to put them.”

Implementing the plan is expected to cost $300,000, funding which the report says the city is already holding.

Deputy mayor Shawn Lewis, chair of the strategic priorities and policies committee that will hear the plan Tuesday afternoon, said city staff are generally “rowing in the right direction” by establishing clear rules for encampments. He expects his colleagues will feel the same way.

“That is where this report starts to really help us move forward with some clear guidelines and expectations around how we are going to manage these,” he said. “I think there may be some differences of opinion on the details, but I think that overall, this is kind of the thing that we have been looking for a while.”

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Of concern to Lewis, at this stage, are setbacks from homes and schools not being large enough, but also accompanying plans to extend service depots at encampments. He wishes to extend the depots by only a year, to study their impact and look for support from Queen’s Park and Ottawa.

The strategy was drafted through consultation between the city, first responders, and front line agencies tending to the city’s vulnerable population, one of which was the Ark Aid Street Mission.

Sarah Campbell, the agency’s executive director, calls the explicit human rights approach “critical” in taking next steps to address encampments, but agrees the multi-layered causes for encampments means there is no silver bullet.

“I think we have to, first and foremost, acknowledge that this is not ideal or desirable, but given the circumstances, how do we balance personal safety, community safety,” she said. “I think that this is a good first attempt … I think the proof of any plan comes in the implementation and our ability to actually adjust the plan as necessary.”

Campbell stressed the plan is not meant to stand alone, and other supports such as health care and supportive or affordable housing are needed to address “one of the greatest crises of our generation.”

Politicians will weigh in on whether or not to endorse the strategy Tuesday afternoon, as well as endorsing a one- or nearly two-year funding plan for the encampment service depots.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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