A message from Advocates for A Better Hamilton: Chuck Farrauto, Ryan Furlong, Kelly Oucharek, Andrew Selman

“The court holds the moral compass that is often the only protection for the most vulnerable. I observe that the most vulnerable includes not only the homeless but also the elderly person and the child who want to use a sidewalk or a city park without tiptoeing through used needles and human faeces.”- Justice James Ramsey, Dec 2024.

This statement sums up the feelings of many residents, in Ward 2 and beyond. The North End and Ward 2 have the lion’s share of encampments; in Bayfront and Pier 4 alone, numbers peaked at 70 tents this summer, spread out over 27 largely non-compliant sites. This created an intentional overconcentration, which does not fare well when our concerns are under-represented; dismissed as perceived, rather than actual.
Ward 2, is also the intended home of a high-acuity, low-barrier shelter on the contaminated lands of Barton-Tiffany, a residential neighborhood. This “experiment” as the Mayor called it, may seem like a reasonable fix, yet it sacrifices community safety, while failing to provide permanent solutions with its hefty price tag. It is intended for those who cannot or will not access a typical shelter, with allowance for illicit drug use and having no curfew, as well as accommodating couples and people with pets. We have seen the ramifications of this play out in our public parks. While this may improve things like sanitation, it does little to mitigate the safety concerns of trespassing, crime and open drug use North Enders have expressed. The City is tight-lipped about the illicit drug use, crime and violence they are inviting to the neighbourhood.
This is not the first time the City has tried to force a project of this magnitude on an unsuspecting Ward 2 without consultation. (You may recall the 2023 HATS debacle). To date, no one from City Hall has been interested in engaging with the community about the shelter, even refusing to attend a citizen-run meeting to hear our concerns, where over 250 attended.
A group of residents spanning the lower city have banded together with the goal of holding the city accountable for the impact of encampments while also doing what we can to force the City to find a more appropriate location for the outdoor shelter. We respect there are some who are okay with this plan, for those that aren’t, the option of donating to our fundraising efforts is here. You can scan the QR code or you can contact us via the GoFundMe site https://gofund.me/2428466e.

 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the North End Breezes. We encourage diverse perspectives and open dialogue within our community”.