Outreach workers trying to help 70 encampments as London's homeless crisis deepens

The homeless crisis has gotten so bad in London, outreach workers are having to travel to far-flung parts of the city to count people living without shelter, and those who would usually have a warm place to go are being forced to stay outside. 

Usually in winter, a good portion of homeless people are able to find a place to stay with friends or family, but this year that relief — what outreach workers call 'self-resolution' — hasn't happened as much, said Greg Nash, who works with London Intercommunity Health Centre and oversees the homeless encampment strategy in the city. 

That's also made counting the number of people who need help, and delivering supplies to them, more difficult. 

"There are 70-plus encampments across the city, so it means going from Byron to Argyle to North London to South London," he said. "It's become much, much more difficult and our resources are not keeping up to the crisis and the desperation."

There were 300 people living in tents when outreach workers last did a headcount during the first week of December. They're planning to do another count the first week of January, Nash said. 

"This year we're seeing far fewer people finding options to being able to self-resolve, even with the two hubs opening up and the increased beds. Our shelters are full and we're not meeting the need." 

Agencies have opened 268 new beds this winter and more than 200 day and evening spaces, but that hasn't helped everyone, Nash said. "More and more people seem to be coming to the street and that's primarily due to the housing crisis." 

With more people living outside and trying to keep warm, there have also been more encampment fires, with about a dozen in the last two months, Nash said. "We're making sure that we're getting warm clothing, hot mitts, gloves, changes of socks out to folks as well as thermal blankets." 

Fire crews are now equipped with bags filled with hats and mitts, said Matt Hepditch, the fire department's deputy chief in charge of fire prevention and education. Crews are also going to encampments and offering fire safety lessons, he added. 

"Fires are not permitted in parks and can be reported to bylaw, but we understand that with the current situation and climate with our unsheltered population, people are out there, and they need some guidance to help them," Hepditch said. 

Responding to fires in encampments is similar to responding to them in buildings, because crews never know what they're walking into, he added. "We have to approach cautiously and after a fire. We call our partners to let them know there's been a fire. So they give people displaced or who have lost items some help as soon as possible."  

The city has set up depots that serve those living in tents. They were supposed to be shut down for the winter but because of demand, will remain open. 

Workers are checking in on those living outside daily, said Kevin Dickins, the deputy city manager who oversees the city's homeless response. 

"For individuals that are living unsheltered over the winter, outreach teams and community partners will continue to direct people to shelter, to resting spaces or transitional housing options. Daily visits from coordinated informed response and outreach teams will continue for wellness checks and providing food, drinks and basic and lifesaving needs will continue," he said.