More than shelter spaces in Sarnia needed for ending encampment: legal clinic exec

Sarnia needs more than just available shelter beds to shut down an encampment in a city park, says the head of a York-region legal clinic paying attention to the issue.

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Recent legal cases in Waterloo Region and in Kingston required, respectively, “truly accessible accommodation” for people experiencing homelessness, and that people can’t be evicted from tent encampments at night, said Jeff Schlemmer, executive director at Community Legal Clinic of York Region.

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“The issue for Sarnia council will be, if they want to evict people during the daytime, then they would have to demonstrate that they’ve provided sufficient accessible accommodation for the encampment residents to go to,” Schlemmer said.

That includes things such as accommodating people with pets, with mental health issues, and not splitting up couples, he said.

“I saw the quote from the one (Sarnia) councilor that all we need to have is shelter beds available,” Schlemmer said, after Sarnia council recently voted to clear out a growing encampment in Rainbow Park, but wait until more legal and social services information is presented May 6, amid warnings from city staff about potential litigation.

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“That’s not what the judge said at all,” Schlemmer said, referring to the Ontario Superior Court decision to allow the Regional Municipality of Waterloo to remove an encampment on municipal land.

Accommodation has to meet “the needs of the diverse population living in the encampment,” Schlemmer said, noting some in that population may be banned from shelters for rule infractions or other reasons, or simply not want to stay there.

“Almost by definition, people who are not in shelters don’t want to go into shelters,” he said.

Sarnia council also voted to have city staff “clean up” the park, including litter and human excrement, in the meantime.

The encampment by a children’s playground has neighbors worried about the potential for violence, and disease amid unsanitary conditions, one told council earlier this week.

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The issue is complex, and encampments can present problems, said Myles Vanni, executive director of the Inn of the Good Shepherd which operates a homeless shelter in Sarnia.

“Particularly for more vulnerable populations and women, it becomes more dangerous for them to be in” encampments, he said, noting the threat of increased drug use, drug trafficking, violence and sex trafficking.

Some were allowed to stay in an encampment at an Inn of the Good Shepherd-owned parking lot last summer, but that effort “quickly deteriorated,” he said, explaining the numbers grew, along with garbage and property damage.

“And, as I said, harm to individuals,” he said.

“It’s really tough,” he added, calling what to do about the Rainbow Park encampment a complicated, “no-win” situation.

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“We’re dealing with people, trying to at least protect and give some shelter and space,” he said.

At the agency’s Good Shepherd’s Lodge, schedule rules like when the lights go out — so people aren’t disturbing others by arriving when others are sleeping — have been difficult for some to follow and they choose not to stay in shelter, he said.

Being in a congregation setting can be difficult when people have mental health issues such as paranoia or psychosis, he said.

More affordable and supportive housing is key, but it takes time, he said, noting his agency has been working with the city for months on a rezoning application for the former Laurel-Lea St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Church building on Exmouth Street, to build housing where an emergency shelter has been operating since October.

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“As much as the city might want to expedite (the process), it’s just really difficult to do that,” he said.

Tea seasonal shelter closes Monday, as the weather has warmed, he said.

“We’re down to like four or five people a night staying there” after averaging 22 to 24 a night at the apex, Vanni said, noting some have moved to the Lodge.

Others have come to the River City Vineyard Sanctuary homeless shelter, said pastor George Esser.

Closing the encampment in Rainbow Park is not a permanent solution, he said.

“The people are going to go somewhere else,” he said.

And if they’re removed from there, they go somewhere else still, he said.

Andrew Bolter, with Community Legal Assistance Sarnia, agrees.

“In various (other) communities, having a more organized encampment seems to be working,” he said.

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“I think everyone needs to have a step back here and think about this a little more deeply.”

Meager housing supply and rising rent costs, some after renters leave without realizing their rights, or renovations drag onhave led to more homelessness, he said, noting he had one client who was staying under a barbecue cover during the winter.

“These are members of our community we’re talking about who are homeless,” he said. “They’ve frankly got no other choice.”

Schlemmer noted drug abuse, crime and sexual predation also can be problems in shelters.

Chatham-Kent’s recent decision to build transitional housing cabins on municipal property away from parks, schools, splash pads, residential neighborhoods and child-care centersgiving people some measure of privacy and security, is something for Sarnia to consider, he said.

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It’s “probably what Sarnia should look at doing,” he said.

Coun. Anne Marie Gillis and park neighbor Kim Gawdunyk Monday also said Chatham-Kent’s solution is worth looking at for Sarnia.

An interim measure could be using motel rooms, something that’s been done in other communities like Guelph, Schlemmer said.

“We’re quite interested and concerned about these encampment evictions,” he said.

“Because, from our perspective, the treatment of Canadians who are being evicted from these encampments represents the greatest civil rights issue of our time.

“You don’t expect Canadians to be treated that way.”

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