Complaints about homeless residents eating up Summerside police resources, council told

Summerside police and city staff say more officers are needed to address complaints connected to city residents facing addiction and homelessness.

The city estimates there are about 30 people dealing with homelessness in the city, scattered in about 10 active encampments.

Cleaning up those encampments has cost the city about $40,000 since April 1, according to data presented at a regular meeting of council on Tuesday night. Police resources are also being strained by calls related to mental health, responding to more than 600 in 2023, said Summerside Chief Sinclair Walker.

"The significant portion of the well-being calls are related to the unhoused population in Summerside. We anticipate well-being calls for services will drastically increase in 2024," Walker said, during Tuesday's council meeting.

"This year so far we have had 300-plus calls related to loitering, trespassing, encampments."

The problems of homelessness and addiction are intertwined, said Walker.

Some city residents are concerned about loitering impacting local businesses, said city staff. There are safety concerns about discarded needles and some residents are afraid to visit green spaces where encampments may be set up. Police have increased foot patrols in the city, but they are short-staffed and having trouble managing the situation, Walker said.

"We've lost a number of people in the last year or so to other police services and recruitment and retention has become a serious issue," he said.

There is an immediate need for four police officers in the city, he told council.

Some councillors want the province to help foot the bill.

They noted the province funds some Charlottetown police positions. There are provincially-funded officers connected to the Community Outreach Centre, and others have been funded through the mobile mental health program.

"I don't know why we wouldn't be getting at least some of that here since the population is so transient, and they go back and forth between Summerside and Charlottetown so easily," said Coun. Carrie Adams, who also chairs the emergency services and communications committee.

"We're dealing with a lot of the same issues they are dealing with down there [in Charlottetown] and in other communities," Coun. Cory Snow said, adding the province should be funding a community navigator specific to the area.

"We deserve, and I think the population that is struggling deserves, the same resources."