Hamilton revisits sanctioned sites for the unhoused amid discontent around tenting protocol

Councillors approved another look at hosting sanctioned encampment sites across the city in the hopes of diverting some living rough from residential areas and local parks.

Hamilton, Ont., will take another look at the possibility of managing sanctioned encampment sites in the hopes of moving tents away from parks and residential spaces across the city.

Councillors approved a motion Friday that sends city staff on an exploratory mission to assess the costs and resources needed to facilitate sanctioned sites, yet maintain an encampment protocol that still allows tenting on some city-owned lands.

Ward 4 Coun. Tammy Hwang, who brought the motion forward, says the ask is in response to a deluge of emails, phone calls and delegations at city hall that have expressed their dissatisfaction with how legislators have been dealing with homelessness.

The ask draws upon “documents and research” presented during council discussions last August seeking resolutions to mitigate the growing number of tents popping up across municipal parks.

“One of the recommendations was not to move forward on a sanctioned site at that time because … they didn’t have enough time, effort and research to actually go forward with a bunch of this stuff,” Hwang explained.

Hwang says Hamilton’s encampment protocol has been challenging for residents and taxpayers and that was no more apparent than when 12 delegates last month gave council an earful, sharing anecdotes on damaged property, physical abuse and rodent issues.

Stephen Felker, a delegate at a June 19 general issues committee, questioned why a “group encampment” with support and security does not exist amid repeated incidents of violence he’s witnessed near his residence.

“I myself have called 911 because I was worried for the safety of a young woman who was involved in an ugly instant, right in back my home,” he explained.