Some businesses in Hamilton say encampments are causing safety and cleanliness problems for them, as the city’s encampment protocol was reviewed by councillors at City Hall on Thursday.
The city is now looking at a clean up plan for properties impacted by encampment garbage and debris.
That plan would see the city paying to clean up private properties that are affected by nearby encampments.
One organization that represents businesses in the downtown says it’s a good start, but more needs to be done.
The International Village Business Improvement Area says encampments have become an issue for many businesses in the area.
“What we’re finding is often encampments will set up at places like Ferguson Station, which is not an allowed space, and it’s taking longer than what the protocol says to have them removed,” International Village BIA Executive Director, Susie Braithwaite says.
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They point specifically to Dodsworth and Brown Funeral Home on West Avenue North. It’s right beside Wellington Park.
“There’s often a lot of debris and un-cleanliness there. They have lost a substantial amount of funeral services because people are coming down and seeing the encampments and realizing that’s not a place for them to go and grieve in peace,” Braithwaite says.
The organization is urging the city to address the mess, as well as speed up enforcement of illegal tent sites.
The city acknowledges the timeline for enforcement can be longer than expected.
“We are getting out, we are trying to encourage them to move, if we don’t have success with that, it is referred to MLE for enforcement action, then ultimately to police.” the city’s Director of Housing, Michelle Baird says.
The city’s encampment protocol was adopted last August, and while it allows small tent encampments on some public property, there are rules.
There cannot be more than five tents in a group, and tents cannot be closer than 300 feet from playgrounds, school and daycares – and cannot be closer than 30 feet from private property.
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While the city says it is too early to recommend any changes to the protocol itself, a proposal was made to pay for contracted cleanups on some private properties near encampments.
“Trying to, you know, address those tensions that are occurring, and mitigate some impacts,” Baird says.
The International Village BIA says it’s a good start.
“We don’t want it to be like, ‘Get them out of here’, that’s not what we’re saying, we understand this is a time of need for a lot of people,” Braithwaite says.
“But we do need to look at better solutions so that everyone involved can successfully exist together.”
To qualify for clean up help, the city will visit the private property first to confirm the mess is linked to an encampment.
Ratification for the proposal is going to a vote next week.