Almost no one in the homeless community is using the city’s designated overnight shelter spaces by city hall, and in Ostler Park.
A new report to council from Director of Community Safety Jeff Ford says since the new sites were designated last month, despite a few campers last month, in the last few weeks no one has used either site.
“The likely explanation for very limited uptake is that the City locations do not afford much in the way of privacy for those using them. Both locations are plainly in public view. Moreover, the City implemented the overnight only provision of the Bylaw which means that any occupants must move on during the day,” he says in the report. “For the unhoused, this means packing up and moving to other daytime locations for food, services and supports and shelter. For those with disabilities, this can provide a significant impediment to ongoing use. The requirement to move on during the day likely serves as a deterrent to use these locations where other sites, albeit illegal ones, provide for greater stability.”
Ford says another major factor is the weather, and the city sites provide little shelter from the elements.
He points out there has been a significant amount of money spent on the sites – more than $300,000 in total has been allocated for this and next year – and says they should be “carefully weighed against other alternative approaches in the future.”
The city is legally required to provide a designated overnight camping spot for people dealing with homelessness.
Council will review the report at Tuesday’s meeting.
