SASKATOON – Three homeless encampments on city-owned lots are raising safety concerns for those staying there and the residents that live in the neighbourhood.
The City of Saskatoon had hoped to clear the areas by now, but officials say “aggressive” protests from advocacy groups and a court application have paused all efforts.
“There are two safety concerns here that have to be addressed equally,” lawyer Crystal Fafard told CTV News.
Fafard filed for an injunction that would prevent the city from clearing one of the encampments until the people staying there can find suitable shelter.
She will make her case at a hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon.
“I know so many Saskatoon residents are extremely concerned about these encampments. We all are. We don’t want them. We want security,” she said.
Until the people staying in the encampments can find secure housing, Fafard said more services need to be provided at the encampment, including water, washrooms and garbage bins.
“They need basic rights that every human is entitled to,” she said.
There are growing public health concerns related to the encampment, according to fire inspectors who have observed human waste and rotting food that are attracting insects and rodents in the area.
“The city’s goal is to always support the safety and well-being of people staying at the site, but also support the safety and well-being of neighbouring residents and businesses,” the city wrote in a statement.
A nearby school has also raised concerns about the encampment.
Thursday’s efforts to clear the site were met with resistance by a group of protesters, largely made up of community advocates not people living at the encampment, according to the city.
In the past, advocacy groups have helped protect encampments from being cleared.
In June, a Quebec judge made a ruling that blocked Montreal officials from dismantling an encampment, stating that the city failed to offer a suitable, safe alternative.
Encampment safety remains a complex issue, and a patchwork of policies exist across the country that determine how municipalities handle encampments.
The City of Regina adopted a support-focused approach to homeless encampments after dismantling previous ones in recent years.
Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski previously stated that moving people away from encampments does not solve the issue of homelessness.
Under the updated framework, officials work directly with people staying in encampments to assess their health and safety while connecting them to multiple services, including shelter, identification assistance and counselling.
The Saskatoon Fire Department says it is working with the Salvation Army to connect people at the encampment with housing, transportation, outreach and other supports.
Earlier this week, crews visited the site to serve notice of a clean up. At that time, no one accepted offers of support, according to the fire department.
Fafard said she is confident a “reasonable decision” will come from the court hearing.
The City of Saskatoon said it will act in good faith and refrain from clearing the encampment until the court hearing.
Officials are monitoring the sites and still deciding how to proceed with the other encampments.
