Residents living in Sandy Hill and Lowertown are expressing frustration over the city’s slow response to an increase in homeless encampments. The shortage of police officers has been cited as the reason for the delays. Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante raised the issue at a community services committee meeting, calling for more transparency in how the city addresses encampments. City officials provided an update, revealing that the number of people sleeping outside in Ottawa has risen from about 350 to over 500.
Most of the individuals in these encampments stay in tents or temporary structures, with approximately 50 such sites scattered across the city. Residents in Plante’s ward voiced concerns about encampments overwhelming their neighborhoods, leading to issues like garbage accumulation, drug use in public, and trespassing on private properties.
Anya Fraser, a resident of Sandy Hill, highlighted a case where it took the city 19 days to clear an encampment near Rideau Street. She urged city officials to establish reasonable service standards for responding to encampments promptly. While the city has set a target of five to six business days for clearing out encampments, the current reality falls short due to staffing challenges.
The city’s approach involves partnering with organizations like the Salvation Army to offer services to individuals in encampments and facilitate their transition to shelters. When necessary, enforcement actions are taken, with bylaw officers issuing notices to vacate, followed by dismantling operations supported by police. However, the lack of police availability hinders timely responses, with only a fraction of encampments being addressed within the target timeframe.
Authorities emphasize the importance of police presence during encampment responses, citing security concerns as a priority. The Ottawa Police Service acknowledges the need for increased resources to enhance their capacity to respond promptly. Discussions are underway regarding potentially boosting police funding in the upcoming budget, with a focus on addressing operational demands and improving response times to encampments.
The issue of encampments is not confined to downtown areas, as they have also surfaced in inner suburban wards. City officials are exploring ways to streamline responses by engaging social services promptly and implementing digital reporting tools for residents to report encampments efficiently. The goal remains to minimize the need for police intervention while ensuring the safety and well-being of both residents and individuals in encampments.
