Regina

Background The encampment on the City Hall Courtyard started on June 15, shortly after the City enforced a bylaw that night, requiring individuals who had gathered and erected a tent at Pepsi Park to vacate the park at 11 p.m. Current state On July 25, there were 83 tents in the encampment at City Hall, which is the highest number recorded since June 15. A point-in-time count on July 25 estimated 28 individuals on site. Point-in- time counts fluctuate from day to day, and over the past two weeks have ranged between 30 and 76 individuals on site. -2- Page 2 of 6 CM23-29 Since the start of the encampment, public urination and defecation have drastically increased, as have discarded needles and general waste. Staff and visitors must walk through the encampment to enter the entrance to City Hall and we have had requests from staff and visitors for escort services to and from vehicles. One death has occurred at the encampment, due to a suspected overdose. To date, 20 overdoses have been reported in the camp. Treatment in these reported cases was provided by Regina Fire & Protective Services (RFPS), or by volunteers on site, or by EMS. In three cases, treatment was refused. Regina Police Service: There have been 36 calls to the Regina Police Service (RPS) by City staff or by volunteers and others at the encampment. These calls involved complaints involving possible weapons on site, vandalism, threats of violence, drugs, intoxication and wellness checks. RPS conducts regular walkthroughs and wellness checks. City of Regina: Regina Fire and Protective Services conducts regular wellness checks of camp residents, removes or remedies high-hazard items or conditions and has provided organizers with access to fire extinguishers and an automated external defibrillator (AED) unit in case of emergency. To date, there have been 2 reported fires on site and the removal of a propane tank. Power outlets and some outdoor lighting have been deactivated, as multiple extension cords were overloading circuits and electrical infrastructure was being tampered with, creating a risk of fire or electrocution. To better address public health concerns, the City recently moved the portable public washroom from Victoria Park to the Courtyard, where it remains open 24 hours a day. Public washrooms continue to be available in city hall during business hours. The City has also increased cleaning protocols and the frequency of garbage removal from the courtyard space. Since moving the 24- hour public washroom to the Courtyard, there are still reported incidents of urination and defecation on our property. City staff are in direct contact with camp volunteers several times per week and continue to collaborate with provincial government agencies and community-based organizations to connect camp residents with support and services. The City’s cost to date related to the encampment including additional security, service delivery and maintenance and repair costs is approximately $55,000. The cost is projected to be approximately $40,000 to $70,000 per month for as long as the encampment continues. Residents have contacted the City to share their comments regarding the encampment. Between June 16 and July 24 the City received 64 service requests from residents: -3- Page 3 of 6 CM23-29 ▪ 52 expressed opposition to the encampment, including 11 from businesses or employees who were affected negatively by the encampment (i.e., feeling unsafe or reporting a theft or vandalism), ▪ 9 offered suggestions or wished to help the camp residents, and ▪ 3 expressed support for homelessness but did not support the encampment. One of the City’s most important priorities is the safety of employees. To date, the City has received 15 reports from staff related to the encampment that range from health and safety concerns to reports of violence, drugs and theft. Measures have been implemented to address safety concerns of employees working in the Courtyard, including: assigning employees to work in pairs who manage and maintain our facilities and amending Standard Operating Procedures for Parks and Facilities Staff in the cleaning of the fountain and removal of garbage and debris, providing enhanced PPE when required such as disposable coveralls, gauntlet rubber gloves and face shields and lowering fountain spray. On July 26, the City received a work refusal from park maintenance employees on the basis of “unusually dangerous conditions.” Administration is now following its established process to respond and ensure employee safety is prioritized. This includes on-site counselling services now being provided to Parks Staff who have been affected. On July 24-25 the City deployed its first “pulse survey” related to the encampment, to better understand the impact, if any, the encampment may be having on their workplace experience and on their physical and psychological well-being. Approximately 550 employees known to work regularly or frequently from City Hall were invited to participate and the survey was open for 24 hours. A total of 399 employees (or 73%) completed the survey, which was an extraordinarily high participation rate. The results show that: • 82% of employees working at City Hall feel that the encampment has negatively impacted their wellbeing. This likely reflects concerns with biohazards throughout the front property, firearms and other weapons onsite, and the inherent risk entering and exiting the building to report to work. For many employees, the encampment presents their first real exposure to people experiencing homelessness, along with the activities and impact of addictions and drug use. While their concerns may be disproportionate to the actual risks, the impact on their well-being is real. • 72% of employees surveyed do not support the encampment at city hall. Although few employees are required to enter through the front doors of City Hall or attend to the encampment area as part of regular job duties, there are facilities and park maintenance staff who have encountered intravenous drug use in the washrooms, cleaned up human feces, and experienced threatening gestures and comments. This has caused fear, emotional distress, and job dissatisfaction. -4- Page 4 of 6 CM23-29 • 70% of employees surveyed have adjusted or asked to adjust their daily routines as a result of the encampment. This includes things such as work activities, breaks and use of the cafeteria. A summary of the results is contained in Appendix A. Other Organizations: The Regina Downtown Community Support Program engages with camp residents daily. The Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Street Project Team continues to provide services in the downtown area. The Saskatchewan Health Authority/RFPS Overdose Outreach Team responds as needed. The Ministry of Social Services mobile outreach workers are available at City Hall twice each week to connect individuals to emergency shelter and income assistance. As of July 24, their staff had interacted with 49 individuals so far, two of whom accepted shelter/housing support and 47 who refused or indicated they did not need shelter support. The province also confirmed that between July 16 to July 22 there were up to 21 shelter spaces available in Regina, depending on the night. However, given varying restrictions that exist in some shelter spaces, and the wide variety of supports required by those in the encampment, City Administration cannot confirm if these identified, available spaces would be accessible or appropriate for camp residents. If an emergency shelter is full or does not meet the needs of the person or family looking to stay there, the Ministry of Social Services works with the individual on other options for emergency shelter. Applicable laws Although the Courtyard is not a park, The Regina Zoning Bylaw, 2019 applies to all lands within the City and regulates their use. Camping is not identified in the bylaw as a permitted use in downtown Regina. In addition, the removal of individuals from lands is regulated provincially through both The Trespass to Property Act and The Recovery of Possession of Land Act, both of which were relied upon by the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) in cases of removal of temporary structures erected by protesters on PCC lands. Recent court rulings in other jurisdictions have found evicting people from encampments violated their Charter rights if there are insufficient indoor shelter spaces available. A summary of recent case law is contained in Appendix B. Environmental scan Homelessness is a growing issue in communities across Canada and many municipalities are struggling to develop their own approaches to address the growing rise in homeless encampments. -5- Page 5 of 6 CM23-29 For example, Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara Falls and Ottawa have each declared a state of emergency on homelessness. Hamilton and Charlottetown are planning to set up task forces to determine how best to address encampments. While municipal approaches to encampments across Canada have been varied and range from harm reduction to enforcement, they fall broadly into one of four categories: ▪ Close and coordinate. This approach involves an immediate closure of the encampment, while the city works alongside non-profits and housing providers to coordinate connection to existing services. ▪ Closure with new capital developments. This approach involves an immediate closure and the establishment of new housing, modular homes, or emergency shelter facilities (i.e., warm up & cooling spaces). These new spaces are typically run in partnership with a non-profit organization with experience in providing on-site, wrap-around supports. ▪ Support on-site, with connections to service. This approach permits the encampment to continue and includes on-site outreach to connect residents to current services/housing organizations. Some municipalities have continued to support encampments until new housing options are developed. In this case the camp is not officially closed until all individuals have been connected to service. ▪ Designated encampment sites. This approach has the city designating encampment spaces in approved locations. This is seen in instances where low-barrier spaces and services are limited and is done in partnership with a non-profit organization with experience in providing wrap around supports. A summary of the jurisdictional scan conducted by Administration for this report, including information about other municipalities’ responses to encampments, is contained in Appendix C. CONCLUSION Administration requests direction The direction sought by Administration would, from the broadest point of view, fall into one of two categories: either maintain the status quo through summer and fall or take additional/alternative actions specifically intended to expedite decommissi