Newsmaker of the Year: Finding solutions for city’s homeless
By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on December 31, 2022.
Throughout the year of 2022 Lethbridge residents have seen a lot, from new electric scooters racing down the streets, hostage situations, and protests blocking off the downtown area.But during it all one group kept coming to the forefront of our minds when consuming news day-in and day-out: Lethbridge’s homeless. From issues of housing and encampments, to opioids and death, the tear jerkers and the jerks, the homeless crisis has been seen across the media in various portrayals.
On Dec. 7 the City of Lethbridge published the results of its Lethbridge 2022 Point-in-Time (PiT Count, which indicated at least 454 individuals were experiencing homelessness in September 2022). The “snapshot” of homelessness in Lethbridge indicated numbers doubling from the previous year’s PiT count, where 233 individuals experienced homelessness.
Throughout February and March, many of the issues surrounding housing and the vulnerable were hidden among other events, including the Coutts blockade and the U of L strike.
With rising concerns on affordability and more people requiring aid services, the homeless crisis began to build traction. Spring weather created a “window” of visibility, with those living on the streets now out in the open, instead of bundled up out of sight. Tents and encampments started to appear around Lethbridge, with the term “tent city” being dubbed for the gathering accumulating near the Civic Centre.
The City of Lethbridge would issue a statement on the homeless camps in the beginning of July, highlighting an increase in encampments in the community and how they posed a safety risk for individuals living within them, and for the community.
“The City of Lethbridge continues to work with stakeholders on a collective impact approach to improve the encampment response process while protecting the dignity of the most vulnerable in our city,” reads an excerpt from the statement. “A coordinated encampment removal is triggered when there is an immediate safety concern, illegal activity, or violation that requires it to be removed… if necessary, the Lethbridge Police Service may provide enforcement.”
This would be the kick off for rising concerns about homelessness in Lethbridge, with many residents feeling there was not enough being done, while others felt the matter needed more enforcement. Lethbridge City Council would add homeless encampments to its meetings, hoping to address the growing situation. In late July, council would hear from Mayor Blaine Hyggen regarding a motion to allocate up to $470,000 in one-time funding from corporate budget contingencies to move forward with more suitable solutions for camp concerns.
Following this, the city would see a ramp up of homeless “cleanups” sparking arguments with residents advocating for either compassion or enforcement.
Beginning in August, the City of Lethbridge served those occupying the Civic Centre encampment a 24-hour notice to vacate the premises.
“This isn’t the first time that we’ve tried to encourage people to move on. The only difference on this one is (it’s) on the Civic site, it is under a Petty Trespass Act, instead of being under the park’s bylaw, or streets bylaw. There’s a little bit of a different process. That’s why the notifications were put out. We have been dropping by the site as often as possible. The site did become unsafe and our service providers couldn’t do outreach in the encampment anymore,” said Mike Fox, director of community services.
Leading into the fall, the homeless became the topic of conversation with reports showing insights into the issues surrounding how the problem was being handled.
One report presented to council said the city needed to create both short-and long-term solutions to mitigate health and safety risks.
During the timeframe of June to September the City of Lethbridge would report that the Clean Sweep Program had cleaned 13,080 kilograms of debris, 852 needles and 44 pipes from the Civic Centre track area. Issues with the encampment would lead the city to fence off the area in the Civic Centre, saying administration had decided the location presented a heightened risk to people living in the area.
With winter weather came a push for action and supports. Colder conditions created an immediate need for more services to help those on the streets. Food banks across the city received donations, while still providing to those in need. Holiday campaigns ramped up their callouts for aid during the season.
But when all was said and done in 2022, are those that have influenced our news for the year any better off?
Groups like Alvin Mills’ Kii Maa Pii Pii Tsin (Kindness to Others) Healing and Recovery Camp started pilot programs to help with homelessness and addictions during August to October.
“We are seeing our numbers go up as high as 14. We can currently accommodate 16, and we take in anybody, Indigenous or non-Indigenous. We have gone through around 30 to 35 individuals. With the camp, recoveries are based on Blackfoot tradition and beliefs. We accept anyone, as Blackfoot people, we are very accommodating to others in the neighbouring communities,” said Mills.
While other proposals, like the sober shelter near the old Civic Centre, were put up to debate and many among the public had issues with the use of the space.
“What we heard is pros and cons to the shelter location. There wasn’t a matter of a majority of people saying we don’t want it there and all that. But what we did is we had a greater community conversation when we had those open houses regarding the issue itself,” said Ryan Parker, who at the time was the Deputy Mayor, commenting on the outcome of the open houses.
The issue of homelessness was a hot topic for the year of 2022. With factors in play that affected our risk for affordability, the fear of homelessness loomed on many shoulders. With some unable to escape, with increasing demand for solutions, will time be the factor that sparks change, or will the issue need a unified front?
Homelessness is not a one-person problem, it is a collective issue that calls for unity. It is easy to call on another to make the change, but harder to accept the roll we play as bystanders to a social issue. In 2023 these issues on homelessness and the vulnerable will continue, but perhaps with a unified front we can help make positive change. 2
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