A tent is not good housing
Police clashing with protesters as city officials try to clear a homeless encampment is a terrible look for any city.
So after seeing those images in Toronto last week, it would be easy to assume the city is engaged in a heavy-handed response to the homeless crisis — and during a pandemic, no less.
But, in fact, the attempted clearing of a west-end homeless encampment at Lamport Stadium was part of a gradual and reasonable process.
Overall, the city has trod gently when it comes to homeless encampments since the beginning of the pandemic. The heavy police presence, coupled with protesters who answered calls on social media to “come defend” the Lamport encampment, is a real low point, and we hope an isolated one.
Early on, Toronto was tolerant of people living in tents and makeshift structures in parks and along medians, clearly understanding that the city’s crowded shelter system was not an attractive option given the dangers of COVID-19.
The city quickly and quite dramatically improved its shelter options by acquiring hotels, where everyone gets a room of their own, and opening new temporary shelters allowing for beds to be spaced out.
There are about 2,400 new hotel rooms and 1,200 new shelter spaces. It’s an impressive effort to improve conditions for those who are homeless in Toronto. On top of that, the city has permanently housed thousands more and accelerated its plans for more affordable and supportive housing.
Many of the people living in those hotels came from encampments. According to the city, there’s a hotel room available for each of the 450 people it estimates are still living outdoors.
The city’s outreach workers have been visiting encampments repeatedly — in the case of Lamport, more than 100 times this year — urging people to move indoors. A room of one’s own, which used to be a much rarer offering in the shelter system, comes with three meals a day, showers, laundry, and important connections to help access permanent housing, mental health and addiction supports and COVID vaccines.
Living in city parks is illegal and, far more importantly, it’s a terrible form of housing.
There will always be a few people who will never come inside, never submit to any of the rules and requirements. The city can’t compel them, but nor can it ignore the health hazards created by ongoing encampments.
“There does come a time when we have to take some action,” says Mayor John Tory. “We cannot have people living continuously in unsafe, unhealthy and illegal circumstances in our public parks.”
He’s right.
The city will never please everyone but its stepped approach, which eventually leads to clearing an encampment, is a reasonable one.
Toronto is not telling those without homes to move along, somewhere else, anywhere else. The city has taken the time and spent millions of dollars to create better and safer accommodations.
The city is not trying to sweep the crisis out of sight, out of mind. It is taking up its responsibility to provide the housing and supports these people need and deserve.
The protesters and advocates who are furious with the city were some of the loudest voices last week. But they weren’t the only voices.
Ryan Conroi was staying at the Lamport encampment until he accepted a hotel room. He came back to help a friend pack up. And of his new room he said this: “It’s way better.”
There is much more to do, especially when it comes to building affordable and supportive housing to replace hotels rooms and shelter beds. But the city is on the right track.