Camp residents wary about moving to new shelter
Residents in homeless area don't feel there's room at Convention Centre
Residents of a homeless camp that popped up in Old Strathcona two months ago worry conditions will be too crowded at the Edmonton Convention Centre when it opens its doors as a 24/7 shelter this week.
Randy Jago — recently staying at the camp in Light Horse Park — said most, if not all, of those in the two dozen tents pitched on-site won't be moving to the new downtown shelter space because they believe it will fill up with the larger homeless crowd now camping in Rossdale at the Pekiwewin Camp, just east of the convention centre.
The two homeless camps are far from one another and there are fears of overcrowding; Jago said there are also safety concerns should the two groups be under one roof.
“(It) can't hold everyone, everyone from Rossdale is going there first,” said Jago on Sunday, bundled in winter clothing as the wind chill hovered around -17C.
“Winter's coming and it's getting colder.”
Michelle Switner, one of the core organizers at the camp, said residents don't want to have to leave their community and cross the river.
“This is what they know. This is their family, people, the businesses, the beat cops know them, you know what I mean? They come and stop by and check in on them and have a conversation,” said Switner.
City numbers show there are about 2,000 people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton and there are about 600 people sleeping outside on any given night.
Earlier this month, police Chief Dale Mcfee said calls in Rossdale have increased by 113 per cent over last year, attributed to Pekiwewin camp. Data provided by Edmonton Police Service indicates there were 307 police events at or near the encampment between Aug. 4 and Sept. 14.
Organizers of the Pekiwewin Camp did not return requests for comment on Sunday. Postmedia was previously told the camp that formed in July near Re/max Field is home to about 200 residents.
After Mcfee revealed the numbers on Oct. 7, camp organizer Shima Robinson told Postmedia she wasn't surprised as the crime rate is symptomatic of the needs of those living in the camp. The camp has called for an end to police violence, racism, tent-slashing and bylaws that target homeless people, including trespassing and loitering fines, and asked the city to provide housing for its homeless campers, among other demands.
Scott Mckeen, councillor for Ward 6, which includes the Rossdale area, said he has heard concerns regarding the camp from area residents but he's also getting compassionate feedback from some of them. He said the convention centre is an add-on and the city continues to look for other ways to house the city's vulnerable community. Mckeen believes there will be enough space for everyone.
Mckeen said he recently sent a letter to the area's community expressing how the centre will “massively change” the situation on the ground when it finally opens its doors.
“Overall, I'm quite confident that we're going to be able to deal with the need,” said Mckeen. “Between Mustard Seed, Hope Mission, the City of Edmonton, the city's new bridge housing facility in the former jockey dormitory. There's a bridge housing facility being looked at on the south side and then of course there's a scan being done of potential hotels and other buildings.”
Mckeen said homelessness has been dragging on too long in the city and he gave kudos to the organizers of both camps for bringing the issue to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said there is still a need for a paradigm shift in how the community is treated and that police shouldn't be responding to mental health, addiction and trauma calls.
“If we solve this issue, we will save lives. Reduce crime and disorder in our communities, help local business and reduce taxes. Because the way we're doing it now is the most expensive way,” said Mckeen.
Back at the south-side camp that first popped up on Sept. 5, Jago said that he's grateful for those from surrounding communities in Old Strathcona who have been bringing blankets to the camp in recent weeks — now campers need more coats, boots and winter clothing.
David Williamson, a volunteer at the Old Strathcona camp, said there are “a few good people doing too much work.” He said some volunteers are spending hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets to provide food and others are at the camp helping almost every day.
Switner said 75 to 80 per cent of the food supplied at the camp is donated by volunteers and paid for out of pocket. She also noted local businesses have been donating supplies, including over $1,000 worth of firewood.