Homelessness: Hamilton council backs bolstered anti-tent enforcement

The city will spend nearly $417,000 to hire four bylaw officers to bolster a crackdown on homeless encampments.

The temporary positions are to support Coun. Jason Farr's push for enhanced" enforcement of a bylaw that bars tents in parks.

The existing approach is an open-ended scheme" that allows encampments to become entrenched," Farr said during a heated debate Wednesday.

Complaints from constituents - including over drug use, thefts and all-night parties" - motivated him to pursue an expedited process, he said.

Sorry folks, if you were a councillor that constantly sees an increase in these concerns, you'd be bringing this amendment, too."

The change, approved by council on an 11-4 vote, calls for seven-day-a-week enforcement with officers completing their duties, including informing police of trespass notices, within 72 hours of fielding complaints. The four positions are to last until Dec. 31.

Councillors who opposed the enforcement change and hires argued both moves did nothing to address homelessness, the central problem.

I would much rather see $400,000 going towards solutions," said Coun. Nrinder Nann, who also called it unfortunate" that all encampment residents had been cast as criminals.

Likewise, Coun. Maureen Wilson argued a lack of affordable and supportive housing was the heart of the issue, but not a lack of enforcement.

You are going to shuffle them along. You are not going to solve the problem," Wilson said.

In support of Farr's motion, Coun. Sam Merulla said he couldn't support normalizing people living in a park," adding, I can't accept that as public policy."

Coun. Terry Whitehead, who also backed the enforcement changes, suggested opponents volunteer a park for me" to run a project.

If you want to support this, power to you. You've got to answer to your community come election time."

In a letter, the Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team urged council to reject Farr's motion and allow council's direction for cross-sector meetings of experts to convene to explore solutions to encampments.

Accelerated enforcement will put additional pressure" on the city's eight-member outreach team to carry out the complex" task of directing people to shelter or arranging for housing, Angie Burden, general manager of healthy and safe communities, told council.

As of last week, staff knew of roughly 25 people living in encampments, but the number has fluctuated to more than 100 at times during warmer months.

People who live outside give a range of reasons for not staying in shelters, including mental illness and addiction. Some also cite fear of theft, violence or pests in the congregate settings.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city has expanded capacity in Hamilton's shelter system and booked hotel rooms as overflow spaces.

But those who work with people on the street have consistently aired frustration over not being to find beds for people in need. In some cases, service restrictions that bar people from shelters for behavioural issues are barriers.

In December, the city suspended its program for couples in hotels, citing increased concerns of domestic violence, and rooms are no longer available for families with hotel bookings up amid eased pandemic restrictions.

There are some spaces for men and women, noted housing director Edward John. We're not talking about a significant amount of capacity."

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com