Council forbids new resting spaces for homeless Londoners in shelters on main street of BIAs
New restrictions imposed by city council will reshape London’s upcoming response to homeless encampments.
On Tuesday, city council held a long and meandering debate about changes to the Whole of Community Response to Homelessness’ recommended plan to address encampments.
An amendment by Coun. Corrine Rahman directed civic administration and the mayor to engage with the senior levels of government to fund additional overnight spaces, rent supplements, and transactional encampment services for a two-year period from the new $250 million federal fund to address encampments.
Coun. Susan Stevenson, whose ward includes the Old East Village, brought forward an addition to the main motion.
“My intention is [that] no new funding go to resting spaces, day or overnight, on the main street of a Business Improvement Area (BIA),” Stevenson urged colleagues.
City staff could not confirm which roads would be considered the “main street” of larger BIAs like Downtown London.
Several councillors expressed support for the motion based on longstanding concerns from business owners within the special business districts.
But others worried about the cumulative of council’s decisions, including maintaining a 100-metre minimum setback from residential properties.
“We've been telling people they can't camp here, and they can’t sleep there, [and] these agencies can't use these buildings for these purposes,” argued Coun. Skylar Franke. “I'd really like to get to the point where we're telling people what they can do! We're eliminating a lot of opportunities for people to find shelter.”
A majority still backed Stevenson’s motion — noting that the restriction impacts future resting spaces funded from upcoming federal encampment funds received by the city.
“I am hopeful that we can give reassurance to our businesses in the Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) that we're going to prioritize their rights and concerns equally [to] our unhoused population,” Stevenson said.
The council decision does not impact shelter spaces already operating on the main street of BIAs, including Ark Aid Street Mission’s 30 resting spaces on Dundas Street.
The federal government has committed that municipalities will receive a share of the $250 million encampment fund by winter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE Trudeau to announce temporary GST relief on select items heading into holidays
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a two-month GST relief on select items heading into holidays to address affordability issues, sources confirm to CTV News.
'Ding-dong-ditch' prank leads to kidnapping, assault charges for Que. couple
A Saint-Sauveur couple was back in court on Wednesday, accused of attacking a teenager over a prank.
Volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for the 7th time in a year
A volcano in southwestern Iceland that has roared back to life after eight centuries of silence has erupted for the seventh time since December, sending molten lava flowing towards the Blue Lagoon spa, a major tourist attraction.
Bitcoin is at the doorstep of US$100,000 as post-election rally rolls on
Bitcoin topped US$98,000 for the first time Thursday, extending a streak of almost daily all-time highs since the U.S. presidential election. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40 per cent in just two weeks.
REVIEW 'Gladiator II' review: Come see a man fight a monkey; stay for Denzel's devious villain
CTV film critic Richard Crouse says the follow-up to Best Picture Oscar winner 'Gladiator' is long on spectacle, but short on soul.
Parole board 'working' to have Bernardo victims' families attend hearing in-person
The Parole Board of Canada says it is now working to allow victims' families to attend Paul Bernardo's parole hearing and deliver their victim impact statements in person.
Police report reveals assault allegations against Hegseth, Trump's pick for defence secretary
A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public late Wednesday.
Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas officials
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their 13-month war in Gaza and the October 2023 attack on Israel respectively.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.