Hamilton residents were able to voice their concerns on the topic of unhoused people living in encampments during a public meeting Monday evening. Many were angry over the tent sites that have become a feature in parts of the city.
READ MORE: Hamiltonians discussed solutions to homeless encampments
The City of Hamilton and advocates for unhoused people are hoping these public meetings will be an important step toward a resolution of the encampment crisis in Hamilton.
One resident at the meeting said, “Encampments should not be allowed in our city. The city has many bylaws the rest of us have to abide by these bylaws and individuals at encampments should have to do the same.”
City of Hamilton says that the people in encampments have a right to housing. Director of Housing, Michelle Baird said, “We do need to find a way to respect the rights of individuals who are currently in encampments.”
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Jennifer Bonner who works with unhoused people at The Hub says she understands the neighbourhood concerns, even fear, but the housing issue has to be dealt with.
“These tents aren’t just popping up out here, there is a reason why that is happening. We all understand the root cause, we all know that housing is the priority but we have to come up with some short-term solutions that fit every neighbourhood,” Bonner said.
The city says there are about 165 people living in tents in Hamilton. Others who work in the community say that number is higher, possibly 300. One of the city’s proposals is to establish sanctioned sites around Hamilton of no more than five tents.
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“The reality is these are our brothers and sisters and they need to be housed,” Ward 15 councillor Ted McMeekin says the city should be searching for ways to help, like the idea of tiny homes.
Dan Bednis from Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) said, “We’re looking at dealing with this from an emergency crisis basis, do something right now. Where we can be established in two to three months, we can be fully established and handle a reasonably sized percentage of that 165 by this winter.” Bednis says three groups of small homes around the city could almost handle the issue until a bigger solution comes along.
Carpenter Khaleel Seivwright built his version of tiny shelters for people in Toronto. “For every one that received one, it was overwhelmingly positive. Just to have a place that you can lock your things in and you can go and sleep in and you were protected from anyone who might want to harm you and it was much quieter.”
Another meeting to get the public’s views on the encampments will be held next week at Hamilton City Hall.
The City of Barrie is proposing to make it illegal to help anyone who’s homeless on public property by giving them anything like food, warm clothing or a tent.
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