'Managed encampment' label could scare away people who need to live there, UW researcher says

The Region of Waterloo is looking into the idea of a managed encampment site for people experiencing homelessness, but a University of Waterloo researcher warns calling it that may scare people away.

Tracy Peressini is an associate professor of social development studies at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo. She studies homelessness and has looked at how other cities have dealt with the crisis.

"It's good to include encampments in the planning process," she said in an interview Friday on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition.

"One of the reasons these guys are sleeping outside is they don't want the structure of the shelter or rules to follow," she said.

To call an encampment "managed," however — "that particular label may not be the most effective," Peressini said.

Waterloo regional officials are working on various ways to address the homelessness crisis in the community.

A point-in-time count in September 2021 found there were more than 1,000 people homeless in Waterloo region, and roughly 400 of them were sleeping in their cars, in encampments or on the street.

Regional officials know those numbers are not improving. Ryan Pettipiere, the region's director of housing, said there are about 20 encampments around the region, although the number of encampments and people who are staying in them fluctuates.

Last month, regional councillors approved interim housing initiatives aimed at getting people off the streets. Pettipiere says since then, staff have been working to get some of those initiatives in place before the weather turns cold.

That includes the idea of a managed, outdoor encampment site, adding emergency shelter spaces and offering supports through a traditional housing program and a home-based support program that would help people with funding.

"Some, by their nature, are going to take a little bit longer. Some we are optimistic about having in place in the coming weeks and days," Pettipiere said in an interview Thursday. He also said they're looking for potential landlords with property or vacant buildings who may be willing to partner on housing initiatives.

"We're looking for spaces, places, properties, infrastructure to partner [with] to implement these solutions as soon as we can."

The region has vowed to end homelessness and in 2021, promised to build 2,500 affordable homes in five years to address the issue. As of Friday, the region's dashboard showed 990 new homes have been built, 153 of which are occupied, and 837 are in development.

A U.S. study released in July 2019 by Abt Associates for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Health and Human Services looked at the reasons why people choose to live in encampments.