City council hears latest encampment strategy report
By Lethbridge Herald on September 17, 2024.
People stand next to tarp coverings and piles of belongings Tuesday afternoon near the homeless shelter, as Lethbridge city council was presented with an update on the City's encampment strategy.
Herald photo by Ian MartensAl Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
The latest encampment strategy update to city council shows there have been a total of 606 calls to date in 2024.
Community Social Development general manager Andrew Malcolm provided the update to council on Tuesday.
In the current reporting period, there were 254 encampment calls. So far this year from Jan. 1 until Aug. 23 (which is the year-to-date reporting period), there have been 395 encampments identified, 134 in the current reporting period. One of those calls involved a minor, bringing to eight the total so far in 2024.
In the current reporting period, there were 40 calls for needle debris, 71 for biohazards and 82 for debris. For 2024 year to date, there have been 81 needle debris calls, 152 for biohazards and 193 for debris.
In 2024 to date, there have been 30 co-ordinated cleanups, 15 in the current reporting period. During this reporting period, 160 structures were removed, bringing the total so far this year to 257.
There was a total of 10,650 kilograms of debris removed during this reporting period, bringing the year’s total to 19,400 kg.
There have been a total of 1,032 311 calls received this year.
Malcolm’s report states that the June 14 to Aug. 26 reporting period represents the high season for the encampment response.
“In this time, the Encampment Response Team (ERT) experienced a 27% increase in reported encampments over the same period in 2023. Along with the increase came new trends and challenges related to ever changing dynamics of encampments as well as changes with staffing were experienced which required the ERT to be flexible but consistent to maintain the high the level of service achieved in 2023,” says the report.
The report adds that the ERT is committed to improvement and will continue to be proactive in locating encampments as well as safely managing changing dynamics.
“While the revised Outreach approach, now internal to the City, was only operational in the month of August, early results are very encouraging and we are excited to see this service grow in supporting the communities most vulnerable to increase voluntary compliance and increased connection with social supports, ultimately with the goal of
transitioning individuals out of encampments and into stable shelter and housing options,” adds the report.
Two new staff members joined the ERT which filled a pair of vacancies, those of the encampment response technician and encampment response worker. These new staff are now overseeing day-to-day operations of the response.
Of encampment locations, 40.8 per cent in 2024 have been at the shelter and surrounding area, 12.5 per cent at Galt Gardens, 5.4 per cent in the Civic park area and 41.5 per cent elsewhere. In 2023, by comparison, 28.8 per cent of encampments were at Galt Gardens and 2.8 per cent by the shelter. The Civic park area had 13.5 per cent of encampments while the majority – 54.8 per cent – were elsewhere.
The report also notes:
• The shelter and surrounding area have been a hotspot for encampment activity over the summer months. Sixty confirmed encampments have been found in this area, accounting for 41 per cent of all confirmed encampments. This location is visited during every coordinated cleanup and LPS has issued multiple tickets to individuals for trespassing or various municipal bylaw infractions. ERT staff have been engaged with Blood Tribe Department of Health and Lethbridge Housing Authority staff regarding the Shelter property and how to address encampments on private property as well as the ongoing construction and how the construction will affect the area in the vicinity.
• The ERT and LPS continue to find and return stolen items that have been found in encampments. In recent weeks they returned several thousands of dollars worth of equipment that was previously reported as stolen to a local roofing company.
• LPS has made several arrests in encampments while addressing matters unrelated to the response including – but not limited to – breaches of conditions, outstanding warrants, possession of weapons or associating with individuals they are prohibited from being around.
• Weekend response by the ERT is not supported under the existing staffing model Anything reported over a weekend is triaged and responded to by mid-day on the on the Monday. Encampment situations with an immediate safety risk can be reported to police who will triage and respond accordingly.
In terms of outreach, the report says that such services provide support to unhoused individuals facing navigation challenges for such issues as mental health, substance use and other barriers to acquiring housing.
“Outreach staff complete intakes with individuals wanting to engage in services. Once consent is obtained, Outreach staff work with individual to develop a case plan which focuses on housing needs and housing readiness. Common referrals could be detox, treatment, housing supports, mental health and addiction supports, etc.,” says the report.
Outreach services have been transitioned internally from being contracted out with these becoming fully operational in August.
In August, there were 18 total intakes. Six of seven referrals that were completed in August were successful, says the report.
25-24
Define elsewhere. Give us the heads up on encampment spreading.
Many have given up calling in encampments or even calling LPS for crimes in progress due to the lack of response and nothing been done.
The program started out good, but now the people who set them up know they can set and nothing will be done for several days. Most of them are not the unhoused that for one unfortunate event or another, have found themselves on the streets. Most are the ones committing crimes.
They need to move them along when they set up, not days later after reaching the 3rd step. They need to move those who sleep in front our businesses along as well. Nothing is done anymore and these people are aggressive and attack people now, so who do we call when police don’t to their jobs? We are tired of inaction!