City's list of parks where homeless encampments prohibited faces new scrutiny
City hall finally provided a rationale why specific city parks were selected to be on a list where homeless encampments are proactively removed.
During this week’s meeting of the Community and Protective Services Committee, Coun. Sam Trosow pressed staff about a recent story by CTV News.
“There are some high profile, very busy, high activity parks in our community that require proactive surveillance,” Kevin Dickins, deputy city manager of social and health development explained.
CTV News recently revealed that out of 546 municipal parks, city hall has a list of 15 where compassionate, but proactive tent removal occurs.
The remaining parks are only enforced on a complaint basis.
Except for Springbank Park, the parks on city hall’s proactive enforcement list are in core neighbourhoods including the downtown, Old East Village, and SOHO.
Those neighbourhoods also contain many agencies that offer services that unsheltered Londoners access.
Coun. Trosow asked if the location of the selected parks is motivating Londoners experiencing homelessness to choose riskier locations to set up their tents.
“We know that many people that are going to be coming for your services are in encampments, yet they are being pushed further into other neighbourhoods and dangerous situations,” Trosow said.
“Inability to set up encampments in those downtown parks should not impact people being able to access 24/7 overnight drop-in spaces, or daytime programming spaces as they are all located in the core area or very close to the core,” replied Dickins.
Map showing location of 14 of the 15 parks where encampments are proactively removed (CTV News London)
‘We didn’t ask to be down here’
“I got stabbed in my face a couple times,” 33-year-old Michael says as he gently touches deep lacerations around his eye and down his cheek.
He barely survived a recent attack in the heavily wooded area where he shares a tent with his girlfriend.
Michael says encampments are being pushed from the core into more dangerous remote areas.
“Being pushed further and further back into darker areas like down here where we aren’t really seen,” he said.
“We’re being hidden away so it (homelessness) doesn’t seem like a problem.”
City staff and local agencies admit that the 400 spots in this year’s $5 million Winter Response to Homelessness won’t be enough to help everyone living unsheltered.
Coun. Jerry Pribil describes the current homelessness strategy in London as ad hoc.
“To move them from one spot to another, that doesn’t help their mental health situation, so we have to come up with permanent solutions,” Coun. Pribil told CTV News.
He believes upcoming meetings involving all stakeholders will be crucial to finding permanent solutions.
“Accountability is the key. It really is,” he said. “We have to make sure we all stay on track. It doesn’t matter if it’s the city or the agencies.”
Gordo, 42, worries about having his tent moved by the city.
He understands Londoners don’t want him camping in parks— but he doesn’t want to be there either.
“We didn’t ask to be down here,” he said. “We’re just kind of stuck in this situation.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.