Council tasks administration to look at homeless camps
By Lethbridge Herald on July 6, 2022.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
A homeless encampment is visible at the Civic Centre field directly across from the downtown public library. City Council has tasked administration with looking into the camps for possible solutions.Al Beeber – Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge city council is tasking administration to address the complex issue of homeless camps in the community.
Councillor John Middleton-Hope on Tuesday presented a motion calling on City administration to develop a strategy on homeless encampments in the city.
The motion was passed unanimously after a lengthy discussion about the issue including the legality of closing camps.
The motion specifically calls for administration to report through the Community Safety Standing Policy Committee on the state of notice, process timelines and roles and responsibility to dismantle and clean up the encampment including the City, Diversion Outreach Team, Lethbridge Police service and others.
It also calls on administration to address problems, gaps and risks and options including possible bylaw amendments, taking into account the size of encampments, locations, materials present at them, fires and other matters.
In his motion, Middleton-Hope said there were 135 encampments in Lethbridge in 2021, an increase of more than 50 per cent since 2020. The motion adds that encampments in the Civic Field have stayed in place for as long as 12 days before being removed and that camps in one place for a longer period are more likely to become high-risk with people being involved in such things as trespassing and calls for assistance by first responders, health care professionals and mental health care works.
In his motion, the councillor says citizens have complained about noise in evenings as well as thefts, assaults and harassment by encampment residents and don’t feel safe using city parks, choosing to avoiding them because of increasingly aggressive behaviour.
The present camp removal process leads to a cycle of them being repeatedly established and removed which doesn’t well serve their residents or the community said motion, adding that transitional housing and permanent social housing have been identified as a gap.
Addressing his motion to council, Middleton-Hope said “encampments are quickly becoming a symbol of a broken system of affordable housing. They are primarily the temporary abodes of the homeless, are garbage strewn, bio-hazardous and often unsafe environments for residents and surrounding neighbourhoods.
“The response to these encampments has thus far been reactive and the time it takes to remove these camps is getting longer and the process to de-camp residents much complex. We receive complaints daily regarding the latest shantytown pop-up” and although the City make efforts to stay on top of the encampments, there currently are few alternatives,” the councillor said.
“Options, regulations and resources are needed to effectively remove these environments and a relocation strategy must be developed that will accommodate temporary housing on city-owned land where these encampments may be better managed,” said Middleton-Hope.
“If we as a city permit encampments throughout the city, they become the norm. We need a strategy, we need a location and advocacy to develop sustainable options that impact the problems of encampments and homelessness,” he added.
Council members heard the encampments present a complex issue involving human rights. While a city bylaw – which hasn’t been challenged in court – does deny people the right to set up tents on sidewalks, streets and elsewhere, council was told there is a difference between a person with an address setting up a tent and a person who needs shelter setting up one.
Council members expressed their sympathy and concern for the homeless population but also acknowledged the concerns of residents about their safety where camps are set up.
Acting mayor Belinda Crowson said “ I know this is a concern of many people in the public and there isn’t an easy an answer…if there was housing for the homeless people, we wouldn’t be seeing this.”
Mayor Blaine Hyggen said the encampments has been one of biggest issues the public has addressed lately.
He said he and Middleton-Hope walked through an encampment last week and they saw what was going on “and it’s very sad. It does pull on the heart strings, it’s something that is I couldn’t imagine being in that situation but any of us could end up that way.”
The mayor says when questions come in, it’s important to address them with administration and ask for possible solutions. He said business owners need to feel the support of the community and that something needs to be done to help them.
Councillor Ryan Parker said the questions council has asked about the camps are ones the public are asking them.
“We’re not the only city facing this right now but if we don’t get on top of this quickly, it’s going to grow and grow and grow,” adding it’s not just as easy as removing the tents.
“It’s not the correct thing to do in regards to being humans. But also legally we can’t do it from it sounds like so there’s a lot of gaps here in regards in what we can do. It’s important the community sees that we are asking these questions and we’re just as concerned and at times confused.”
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I always enjoy reading the obvious cluttered with catch phrases like human rights, dignity, respect, compromise, supportive housing, etc etc.
There is a simple solution that seems to be continually avoided when addressing these issues. Start from a known position and that position is “DO NO HARM TO ANYONE”!
You see, one of the issues we have as a society is we follow the nonprofits like a stray puppy dog and believe that they have the same solution to the problem. They do not! Nonprofits believe that you serve the homeless where they are, which then violates the one and only rule of society which is DO NO HARM TO ANYONE!
So right from the get go you are behind the 8 ball. If your intent is to serve the homeless where THEY want to be, you will never solve the problem. How do I know? Quite easy, check out any and all other cities throughout the world and they chose to serve the homeless where THEY WANT TO BE!
So you have many examples of an attempt to follow that solution that results in a disaster for everyone else.
I find it interesting that we take taxpayer money and destroy the very people making the donation to solve the problem. At what point will someone finally realize that no matter whom you are or what you have done in the past, if you choose to serve people where they are, then the result is always the same!
Do we believe that offering lodgings, food, clothing etc etc has to be in the downtown because homeless people are allergic to buses? If so we should identify the allergy and make the treatment available to them.
Are the rights of a taxpayer impinged upon because he has to take a bus to the downtown from the West side? I do not hear anyone screaming Human Rights on his/her behalf that taking a bus is cruel and unusual punishment?
Do the homeless need access to all the downtown services because they shop at the grocery store, need immediate access to Canadian Tire etc etc? Are their contributions to the surrounding infrastructure seen as a total economic collapse if they are not there?
It boggles my mind that so many people are so brainwashed that they cannot see the solution. I sit here from day to day watching people who seem to be rather smart trip over their own shoes because they tied their laces together?
If I told you that a majority of homeless are indigenous, no one here would be surprised. If I told you that relocation anywhere close to the Blood Reserve would allow Mom & Dad to visit if we laid on a Bus from Lethbridge to Standoff and back every two hours, you also would not be surprised. If I suggested we move the Soup Kitchen and build some buildings on the outskirts of Lethbridge bordering the county, and provide a home, food, clothing and a regular bus run, you would think that highly feasible as a solution.
But, its against someone’s human rights to locate them it would appear? Which I find highly amusing. We call them homeless when in fact we know they are the addicted. We support the stupid Nonprofits who have not changed their mode of operation for 50 years and believe them when they say we have to serve them where they are!! Which at best is infuriating because they are there because that is where you feed, shelter and clothe them.
I will place a bet with this community of “the confused”! If we move the facilities to a logical place, follow the DO NO HARM TO ANYONE philosophy and after the move you find a person starved to death at the old soup kitchen door, I will forever keep silent on the subject!
Just as “addicts not homeless” always find their drugs, they always find the place for free food, shelter, and clothing. So if your intention is to milk human rights then I would suggest I can advance the human rights of the society that supports those that are either addicts or homeless.
If you cannot see the obvious conclusion here than I feel sorry for those many many others who will have their human rights destroyed because someone’s rights appear to be a higher priority because they are down and out. The solution is not as rocket science difficult as you think.
Just proceed, with one Rule…DO NO HARM TO ANYONE! Eventually you will get it, but from what I can see thus far, you are tying your shoe laces together and fully expect not to fall even though it has happened 1000s of times before, Someone has to turn the pack in the right direction, normally that’s the job of the Alpha dog and their is no Alpha Dog in the City Administration Department when it comes to this issue! “. So I would highly suggest we all should expect more people falling after tying their laces together! Then observe as they are SHOCKED, they fell again!
Well said. “DO NO HARM TO ANYONE! ” I get so pissed off that everyone is falling all over themself to cater to drug addicts while harming so many others! My wife and I are sick of it. Your solutions make total sense Turbine-wine, therefore, it will never be done. Dennis Bremner also suggested similar solutions but it all falls on deaf ears. The bottom line is these people need to get their lives back on track and while doing so, they don’t need to be harming others. I understand also that those in power are so afraid to say anything that might “offend” someone, they say nothing!
hard to imagine what it must be for the nearby home owners and all that pay big bucks to live across from this mess. the city is fumbling, in a big way. how long would this mess continue were it in paradise canyon and nearby, or park royal etc. have to give the blood reserve its due here, too: awash in govt monies but, like our sleazy, corrupt govts, their council is most focused on lining the pockets of selves and buddies.
I applaud this motion and thank Council for recognizing a growing problem that will only continue to grow. The issue is complex and I know we all have to patient as they form some early model. Edmonton and other cities have tried several methods, but they have failed. I think we have to do what we can to enforce the laws we have at this time.
One of the Charter sections that other cities faced issues moving encampments is no longer valid and that was providing a reasonable shelter to protect from COVID. Lethbridge did more than their due diligence in providing that space as they now are doing. There is a limit, we have met that due diligence required.
Lethbridge is unique, as is other cities, due to the demographics. Living beside the largest First Nations community, the Kainai and near 3 other First Nations communities see a high representation of First Nations on our streets that have been plagued with high rates of addiction, crime, violent crime and domestice violence for many decades and those issues have bled onto our streets in the last several years in rates never seen before due to the opioid crisis.
There are people from Ontario I have spoke with in the encampment by the old YMCA as well as Calgary. They will not stay in any shelter and want their freedom. Some say they are willing to work. They complained that the city had vacant houses the homeless were using torn down after one burned down, threatening other structures near a business and said we should have let them stay there, not realizing the dangers of fire and the risks to their own health and others that make property owners and the city liable.
This is complex, because many on the streets will not abide by rules and if given a place to live will not respect the property and in many cases cause damage and loss of peaceful enjoyment to others and be evicted . . . this has already been seen many times.
There are some that do want change, but many just want to live without any laws to abide by and do what they want, when they want . . . !
The YMCA group had both sidewalks blocked off when I was there, the one running north and south and the one east/west so anyone who tried to pass would have to go a block around to pass. There is clearly a lack of respect that is growing and a sense of entitlement. We have a right to be here and it doesn’t matter that we commit crimes to survive or use the bushes as bathrooms, do drugs or impede others from using the area . . . they refuse to abide by the laws that allow the rest of us to live peacefully and enjoy our surroundings. There are some in the coulees, one camp that has been there for months close to an area frequented by tourists, but the camp is clean that there has never been garbage strewn around or bushes laden with their bio-hazards, so I remained silent on that respectful person that is just trying to survive.
There are many reasons some are in these encampments, and the longer they are there, the harder it will be to slowly bring them back into a lifestyle that complies with current norms and values. We are creating a problem that will become an endless, bottomless money pit, as we have seen occur in BC.
Council will need our support on this and patience, since finding an effective solution will not be immediate, but we should have a plan for next spring.
The best way to prevent these will be to stop them as soon as they begin to set up.
There are many angry citizens that have had to find different paths to get the LSCO and or conduct business at City Hall or visit the Yates! I know the message has been heard loud and clear at City Hall . . . I have faith they will find the best solution that is available. They do need a legal advisor who is knowlegeable in human rights and Charter laws, since our Solicitor can’t be an expert in all laws.
Too bad our federal government is more concerned with gettting everyone high on drugs and not dealing with the impacts it has caused! Even the people in the encampent I spoke with said Supervised Consumption Sites only encourage people to do more drugs . . . they said that and they said we need more treatment beds!
I would ask that those who are Christians pray that our leadership in this city are filled with spiritual wisdom, understanding and revelation in finding the solution to the problems we face in our city to end the addiction issues that have increased homeless issues and encampments.
Pray for our leadership!
Edmonton continues to do what the Mustard Seed, Alpha House, Soup Kitchen insist they do. No one in Edmonton has decided to be the Alpha Dog.
Again, I do not see the issue here. As everyone insists, it is our (Cities) Job to provide accomodations and support. No where in those instructions, whether earth bound or spiritual does it say “where these services must be provided.
We seem to be able to identify that if a solution is not found quickly things will grow and grow and grow. I have news for the Councillor, if you find a solution the problem will continue to grow and grow and grow.
I have predicted 700 addicts in downtown Lethbridge within 5 years or less. Nothing I see has deterred me from that prediction. So the problem really is, that the Council does not want to address the elephant in the room. What is it? “700” that is the elephant!
So now work from that script, which is DO NO HARM TO ANYONE including the Blood Reserve, the Indigenous addicts, the city businesses, the non-indigenous addicts, the city residents. and work with the number 700!
So where do you want 700 addicts “that should be the question”. As clearly stated we have grown by 50% in 2 years. We are at slightly over 300 addicts/homeless now so why plan for 300? For that matter why plan for 700 or 1000? Its easy, no matter what the number is, the downtown WILL NOT SURVIVE and you can take that to the bank!
So that leads to the 4th quandry. DO NO HARM TO ANYONE, deal with the possibilities of 700+, do not kill your own DOWNTOWN and provide Lodgings, food, and clothing!
I personally do not care whether an addict does not want to live on the outskirts of Lethbridge proper. Why? Because for as long as he/she is a ward of the people paying the bills, they live where we choose. Some may decide they prefer the downtown and decide to lounge there. It is called Vagrancy. You pick them up and you shuttle them out to their home. No one says you shall have to cater to people that live for free, and benefit from your hard work, then get to choose where they want to live, other than Nonprofits of course, (religious music in the background) Amen!
Lets put the shoe on the other foot. What if an addict decides he does not want to live at Stafford and 2nd North, he prefers to live on Lethbridge U campus. If he then starves to death because the Soup Kitchen is on Stafford and 2nd North, have we failed him? Was it our responsibility to deliver food, lodgings and clothes to him because he likes the view from UofL?
Sometimes I wonder how stupid society can get, and you know something, they never disappoint, when I think they have reached the height of stupidity some intellect has build a new vaulting pole that takes the beta dogs higher!
I await for the City Admin Conclusions in October, which will be predictable, will not solve the problem, and will ensure the devastation of various parts of our city because of the total lack of Alpha Dogs!
I say again, to anyone listening, we need a board of Alpha Dogs who will not submit a report by October but will have this under construction by October!
PS- I cannot wait for the Reviews on our drug infested motels by mid winter as those who wanted to come to the new Agri-Center realize that Alpha House has once again stuffed the motels full of addicts because, the Beta Dogs couldn’t get a quick erect building, built in time! This studying the study that was studied has far more implications for this city long term then I believe even Council is aware of……we need Alpha Dogs and we need them NOW!
Well said again!
Turbine-wine, I know what you are saying and agree with a lot of it. One thing to note is that there are some Charter sections the homeless and their advocates stand on as their right to have an encampment and without going into it in detail I will give you a link and a brief excerpt from it. There are Charter arguments and UN arguments. That is correct, we have sold out our sovereignty through international agreements and trade deals where other countries and the UN can tell us how to deal with issues.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2019/06/27/Charter-of-Rights-Tent-City/
“…The tent city is legal, they maintain. The city hasn’t provided adequate shelter for the homeless.And Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes that “everyone has the right tolife, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except inaccordance with the principles of fundamental justice.”
Which, the courts have ruled, includes the right to sleep in parks or public space if no otheroption, like a shelter, is available….”
Our city has provided adequate “reasonable” housing to meet what is expected so they do not have that argument.
Two issues: Alpha House is mismanaged and should be kicked out of this city and a locally operated facility should be opened. You and I both know all the issues with this organization, which has been plagued with open drug use, gang influencing, rapes and assaults.
Second, we do need someone in this city that has the intestinal fortitude to stand up for the taxpayers and citizens of this city and move these camps along as soon as they pitch their tents. My understanding is that the bylaw officers are tasked with this.
Finally, it needs to be recognized that many of these people are committing crimes, some organized making a mockery of our laws that the rest live by. They are only there to take advantage!
People adapt to their lifestyles that same as if you go tenting, you soon adapt, in rain or snow. The same as those in jail get institutionalized and doing time means nothing to them, because we no longer can force them to work while incarcerated.
We need to start enforcing the law, laws that the rest of us abide by that allow us to live in peace for the most part!
We all live in the jungle called the world and created a system of rules and expectations. Some of us follow the rules and pay dearly for that right (mortgage, taxes ,utilities). Others live off the land, enjoy freedom and we feed them, house them, and clothe them on our dime also. Who is right and who is wrong and who is to say.
Sooo, I like to enjoy great food and wine in different places but do not like to pay the high prices to stay in hotels or campsites.
Maybe I will get a tarp and pack up my sleeping bag and some clothes and travel! I will go visit Banff and enjoy the park, the food and pitch my tent where ever I want, maybe downtown. Then I will stop in Golden, enjoy the sites and camp out on the hills overlooking Golden, maybe with a nice glass of wine and have some food delivered to my camp.
Continuing on until I get to Salmon Arm, where I rest set up camp on the beach somewhere and stay for a few weeks before I continuing on my journey, staying where I want and enjoying the sites, even fishing on the beach for that fresh fish, without a license.
Freedom to do want I want at no cost, staying on beaches or in parks on the way, no matter what the law says.
Why not? It is becoming the norm in this country, some are addicts, some like to see the country, some fell on hard times honestly, others have mental health issues and some just have no respect for the laws or others and feel they are entitled. Why can’t I be able to do the same?
I know it is absurd! A little satire!
But many have been offered shelter, but refused it or abused it! Cities across this country have tried to house people but when they get people from the encampments and into housing, more suddenly show up!
There is a limit! Here is an idea: give them minimal shelter, but they have to work cleaning streets, painting over graffiti, any tasks that need to be done in the community so they understand the concept. Stop delivering food, clothing and drinks to the encampments so they go to the Soup Kitchen and get into a routine, instead of waiting for food to come to them at night and day. There is a lot more we can be doing that would also help the people in the encampments get back into society. When you work, you build up self esteem, which goes a long way to helping those in the encampments get back to a reasonably normal life.
We are facing a recession and are on the brink of WW III, so we better come up with a better plan soon! There just is not going to be a bunch of extra money to donate to these organizations or tax dollars to pay for the programs!
It is so easy right now just to walk away from life and live on the streets with all the programs we now have in place. Urban camping, with free food delivery!