No easy solutions as encampment outreach continues

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on August 20, 2022.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman A group of people sit among belongings under the shade of a tree Friday at the Civic Centre. The City of Lethbridge says it is continuing to provide outreach to those suffering from homelessness in the community.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The City of Lethbridge says it is continuing to provide outreach and services to people facing homelessness.

To date, the Clean Sweep Program (CSP) has responded to 150 calls of encampments throughout the city, with approximately 95 per cent of the smaller encampment calls being successfully resolved.

“We work with all of our different service providers and different stakeholders to try and make sure that residents of the city are cared for,” said Michael Fox, director of community services.

Fox said city council approved extra funding to provide additional outreach and some security in some of the larger encampments where service providers are doing outreach.

The City said in a release that there are no easy solutions to address encampments and the complex social issues around homelessness but there are successful connections happening to support the vulnerable populations.

During encampment responses, the CSP team works with individuals living in encampments to determine items that they want to keep or throw away, sometimes over the course of several days.

The release states that since July, the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Outreach Mobile Team (OMT) has been providing ongoing outreach support and service referrals to the vulnerable population, specifically those living in encampments.

“We’ve also been able to help people reunite with different families or friends,” said Fox.

He said another measure they have taken to help people facing homelessness is by utilizing a couple of sea-cans to store the belongings of those who are detained by the Lethbridge Police Service due to criminal activity in encampments.

“The city doesn’t want their belongings to be stolen, so we gather their belongings, we provide a ticket to the person who has it, we photograph the belongings, we take a list of what is put into the sea-cans and store them,” said Fox.

He said the reason they decided to use sea-cans is because they are accessible to those providing outreach to be able to return the items later, and they are secure.

“When that person is not detained any longer and want their belongings back, then we arrange for them to get their belongings back so it’s more of a safekeeping while somebody is moved offsite,” said Fox.

In addition, the following have been instrumental in providing outreach, information and referral services during encampment responses:

– CMHA’s Community LINKS Integrated Coordinated Access program

– CMHA’s Diversion Outreach Team (DOT) for transportation services

– Alpha House – Stabilization Support Outreach

– SAGE Clan

– Indigenous Recovery Coach Program (IRC)

– Alberta Health Services – Addiction and Mental Health Outreach

This outreach work – along with the contributions from many other organizations including Alberta Alliance Who Educate and Advocate Responsibly (AAWEAR), LPS Watch, MyCityCare, Streets Alive and Sweetgrass Youth Alliance - continues to make a difference for individuals experiencing homelessness in the community.

To date, coordinated encampment responses have occurred along the north side of 2 Avenue North; along the Kitchen Centre boulevard near the Stabilization Shelter on June 1, July 6 and July 7; and at the Civic track and surrounding area on July 14 – 15, July 28, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10.

For the week of Aug. 5 to 11, 2022, encampment response outcomes included five people connected with CMHA’s Outreach Mobile Team (OMT) to complete referrals to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programming, while an additional two individuals were being re-contacted by OMT on Aug. 12.

A total of 341 interactions were completed by CMHA’s OMT and Community LINKS including intakes, referrals, and rapport-building (including 120 at the Civic area).

CMHA’s Diversion Outreach Team transported individuals to services including the Shelter, Chinook Regional Hospital, Streets Alive, private residences, and others.

A total of 1048 needles and 40 pipes were disposed of to date (during coordinated encampment responses since June 1).

Aug. 10 saw 74 needles and three pipes disposed of from the Civic track area.

On Aug. 10, the CSP removed 1,130 kg of debris (one full dumpster and one full dump trailer of debris) from the Civic track area.

Weekly cleanups at the Civic track area will continue. City Council’s approval on Aug. 9 for administration to explore the possibility of an interim Sober Shelter at the former Civic Curling Centre which could offer an alternative option for those staying in encampments.

As part of the process, community engagement will be conducted this fall.

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