City council approves plan to deal with encampments

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on May 17, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

City council has accepted an Encampment Strategy developed by city administration and the Lethbridge Police Service.
Andrew Malcolm, general manager of communitys social development with the City of Lethbridge, presented the strategy to council on Tuesday and said the plan considers things learned from previous years, engagement with key partners, research and approaches from other municipalities and recognizes the unique context and needs of those in Lethbridge.
 “The strategy’s strategic goals are that parks and open spaces within the community are enjoyable for everyone,” Malcolm told council.
He said the goals must also support the city’s most vulnerable people by connecting them to housing and social supports, preventing encampments from becoming entrenched, informing residents how to report encampments, and keeping the community informed.
He said one of the biggest keys of this response is that it’s adequately resourced in a year-round response, allowing them to debrief on what worked and what did not work over the summer months and make strategic improvements going forward.
Malcolm explained the strategy will be supported by funding previously approved by City Council for up to $500,000 a year for 2023-2026 and $250,000 one-time funding to support the Encampment Strategy. This includes two full-time encampment response positions and one full-time housing specialist, funding for LPS overtime resources, additional resource funding including, but not limited, to vehicle and fuel, biohazard cleanup resources, training, personal protective equipment and contracted outreach services.  
“With the approval of the Encampment Strategy and dedicated funding, we are able to clearly define the level of service we can provide and be consistent in our response and prioritization. We know we have challenges in front of us and there is no quick fix but this new approach brings all of our efforts together, in a coordinated way, to make the most impact for our community,” said Malcolm.
Since encampments can appear anywhere in the city, residents are encouraged to report them by calling 311, and if they witness criminal activity within those encampments, they are encouraged to call 911.

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