Winnipeg council bans homeless camps in public spaces

Winnipeg city council has voted to prohibit homeless camps in many public spaces, including transit shelters and playgrounds, despite concern people will be repeatedly displaced.

On Thursday, council cast a final vote to ban encampments in pools, spray pads, recreation facilities, schools, daycares, adult care facilities, medians, traffic islands, bridges, docks, piers, rail lines and rail crossings. Encampments will also be prohibited when a “life safety issue exists” and wherever they could pose a hazard or obstruction to vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the changes are needed because some Winnipeggers don’t use the amenities out of fear.

“I, and many councillors, have been hearing from families in areas where there are encampments in parks and playgrounds, families who are concerned and families who don’t want to let their children play in the playground because of the presence of encampments, and, sometimes, the presence of needles… So, changes had to be made,” said Gillingham.

The mayor said he believes the plan balances the needs of all citizens.

“We’re striking a balance, we can’t allow encampments anywhere and everywhere,” said Gillingham.

Enforcement would be carried out primarily by the city’s bylaw officers during daytime hours — one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

“We recognize sometimes people may be sheltered in a tent overnight,” said Gillingham, noting he expects the tents to be taken down during the day.

The mayor said the city is ready to enforce the rules and could do so even before a report is expected to detail the policy in November.

“We’ll be expecting our public service to begin to implement it as soon as possible,” he said.

Gillingham said the changes are not seen as a solution to homelessness and won’t stop the city’s work to support the province’s strategy for moving people from encampments into housing.

City council unanimously approved the new encampment rules, although Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) was absent from the vote.

Earlier in the council meeting, elected officials were urged to reject the idea; some argued restricting encampment spaces would put vulnerable people at risk.

“It means telling people who already have nowhere else to go they cannot stay, not here, not there, not anywhere. It means forcing them to carry all of their belongings … across the city during daylight hours, no matter their health or what the weather,” said Meredith Done.

Done, who has worked in homelessness outreach, said the changes would force homeless people to spread out, disrupting outreach efforts.

“Instead of being able to find support for people where they are, outreach workers (would) spend their time chasing people across the city. This wastes already limited resources, breaks trust and makes housing transitions even harder,” said Done.

She suggested the policy could impede on the rights of the homeless and spark legal challenges.

Gillingham told reporters he is confident the changes would hold up in court.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who has long raised concerns about discarded needles and drug paraphernalia in parks, said the changes are necessary to ensure green spaces are safe for everyone. She said she’s spotted needles, crack pipes and other drug-related items in parks in her Daniel McIntyre ward.

“The reality is, if a child even just touches a package of fentanyl, it can (be harmful),” said Gilroy.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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