Regardless of how we refer to Hamilton’s homeless, houseless or unsheltered, they are lost souls struggling to survive. In Hamilton our current estimate of homeless through the “by name list” exceeds 1,600 people or families. Many of these folks are staying with friends or families. Some lost their apartments or rooms when they lost their jobs during the pandemic. Many are working poor with insufficient income to pay the excessive rents in Hamilton. Some come from other Ontario cities hearing that Hamilton is more compassionate. Some are refugees that were either sent here or decided to come to Hamilton. Some are mentally ill patients who were discharged without a community treatment plan because there are insufficient community health supports.
There are approximately 150 :chronic homeless” who struggle with the rules when housed due to high acuities such as serious mental illness or drug addiction. Generally speaking, these are the folks who live in small tent communities.
Let me be clear, I do not support tent encampments in parks. I believe that officially permitting tents in parks with various radial separation only serves to justify encampments as part of the Hamilton housing continuum. It is inhumane to encourage encampments. Chronic homeless individuals need supportive housing to assist them with their acuities whether it is mental illness or drug abuse. While the province provides $28million annually for homelessness shelters and services, they need to provide immediate capital funding for 400 new supportive housing units that are shovel ready.
The text below is the verbatim of my comments at the August 18, 2023 City Council meeting.
Councillor Brad Clark Comments RE: Encampments in Parks at Hamilton City Council
“I remain opposed to the General Issue Committee decision to officially permit tents in parks, with 5 tents to be 100 metres apart, 10 metres from private property lines and with a variety of other radial separations. I fear that this decision will have far reaching impacts across our entire city pitting neighbours against neighbours.
I fear that the 11 day timeline proposed for enforcement of the bylaws will result in so many tents in parks across the city that bylaw enforcement will not have the staff to enforce these radial separations, that our housing teams and social navigators will not be able to keep up.
I fear neighbourhood disputes may well result in threats and violence, we must guard against it.
I fear that the lack of supports on so many sites will bring an increase in drug poisonings caused by the black-market drugs being sold to lost souls who just want to forget their plight or silence the voices even if it is just for a moment.
I fear that businesses that have been dealing with smash and grabs, aggressive panhandling, fearful customers and staff will lose their fight to stay afloat.
I fear that we will not see an increase in provincial funding to manage the onslaught of desperate unhoused people looking for shelters from heat or cold as the Provincial Government continues to ignore this emergency, point fingers and offer political spin about doing their part while playing to their base by stigmatizing the mentally ill, homeless, substance abusers and refugees.
Let me be clear, for me, this is not about one ward against another or one area of the city against another. My concern has always been about zero tolerance for tents or encampments in public parks in all wards.
The city should have utilized unused industrial lands, parking lots that are buffered from residences. Lack of shade could have been easily resolved with some creativity with field tents like field hospitals.
I suggest that the city be prepared to further increase the use of motels or hotels for temporary shelters for families and refugees beyond this plan as winter is coming.
I suggest the city expedite the renovations of the 416 CHH properties even if it means paying a premium to advance the work.
Finally, the city should request that the AG conduct value for money audits for the use of provincial homeless money to verify that we have properly used these funds and to justify our requests for emergency homeless funding. Such a request should clearly indicate that any emergency funding will be temporary to enable the construction of supportive housing and affordable housing.
Mayor, while I always respect council decisions, I do remain opposed to the approach proposed and I will vote accordingly.”
(Hamilton City Council August 18, 2023)
Brad Clark Report 