City strikes deal with community advocates over Hamilton encampments

The City of Hamilton has reached a deal with community advocates over homeless encampments.

The city will be able to enforce the bylaw banning the encampments but will do so with a “personalized approach.”

Under the new protocol, people will be scored on a vulnerability index by the city’s Mental Health Street Outreach Program.

That will determine how the city will proceed in terms of offering services and a timeline for removal.

No more than five people will be allowed in an encampment.

Encampments will also not be permitted on sidewalks, roadways or boulevards and must be 50 meters from a playground, school or childcare centre.

Meanwhile, advocates and the city will continue to engage with provincial health authorities to help people who need more support than the city can offer via its shelter and outreach efforts.

That includes health and wellness interventions for mental health and addiction.

“The City remains committed to helping people experiencing homelessness find safer and more humane housing options and to ensure our public spaces remain safe and accessible to all residents of Hamilton who collectively own them,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

“While this agreement paves the way for the removal of encampments, it does not diminish the lasting experiences for citizens living near them and we thank them for their patience.”

HAMSMaRT, @keepingsix, & the other applicants have reached an agreement with the City of Hamilton. We believe this is a better outcome for people in encampments than we likely would have reached in court. Details in the release below. https://t.co/883XHRhhda

— HAMSMaRT (@HAMSMArTeam) September 30, 2020

The city and community advocates both say the encampments are a symptom of a national housing crisis.