‘We are not all the same’: Hamilton’s unhoused react to city council’s plans

Homelessness remains the prevailing issue in Hamilton, with the city slowly making moves to find a realistic solution.

Encampment rules continue to change, affordable housing construction projects are moving forward, and initiatives like the ‘Solve the Crisis’ campaign launched by the Ontario Big City Mayors coalition are battling for the attention of the provincial government.

But, what does Hamilton’s homeless population actually think about these plans?

At a press conference in Bayfront Park on Tuesday, encampment residents addressed the proposals being debated in city council.

And the main point residents wanted to ensure was clear: a one-size fits all solution may not be a solution at all.

“People seem to categorize us, put us all in that same lump, and I’ve actually been told that the homeless are a disease,” Paul, a resident of the Bayfront encampment, said.

“We are not all the same.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has made headlines in the past for his stance on the issue of homelessness in the province, saying in a press conference just last month homeless people need to “start working like everyone else.”

But people like Paul, who have not been homeless for long but rather are faced with housing insecurity, say with rent prices soaring in Hamilton, it’s not that simple.

“There are people here that are working, and still cannot find a home,” he said.

Another resident of the Bayfront encampment, Amber, said she’s not living in a tent for a lack of trying.

“I’ve tried my hardest to apply for places, I’ve messaged to landlords…I’ve had not one person message me back due to my situation,” she said.

Paul also said solutions like the affordable housing units going in on Tiffany Street only work for a portion of the homeless population in Hamilton.

“They say they want to put us down in this Tiffany and Barton area…and it’s basically for couples and people with animals,” he said. “Me, as a single person, they want to force into a shelter again.”

He went on to suggest the city utilize more vacant lots like the one on Tiffany Street, to provide a variety of options for the unhoused.

Hamilton city council will be in session tomorrow to discuss the use of a notwithstanding clause as suggested by Premier Ford, which would give the city the ability to skirt around some of the laws surrounding encampment cleanup.

“We are not all here by choice,” Paul said. “Some of us have no other way out.”

VIDEO: The Hamilton Encampment Support Network is expected to hold a press conference at Bayfront Park on Tuesday at 12 p.m. to serve as a general response to decisions being made on behalf of encampment residents.