ByPepper Parr
December 23rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
A follow-up on what we understood to be a clearing of some encampments along Guelph Line at Fairview and Mountainside.
Our informant reported that there were eight to ten police cars clearing the encampment.
We reached out to the City Communications people who reported the following:
“On Saturday, December 21, emergency crews from Burlington Fire and Halton Regional Police Service responded to a fire involving multiple tents and 17 propane tanks which posed significant risks to life and nearby properties. Habitants of the encampment had abandoned the site prior to the arrival of fire crews, who extinguished the fire and secured the propane tanks. City and Regional staff have since attended to offer shelter services to any individuals who have returned to the site. City crews are currently engaged in clean-up efforts.
There was a tent community at the western end of the Beachway near the canal amongst the trees.
“This incident underscores one aspect of the safety concern regarding the encampment at Fairview St. and Guelph Line. As a result, the City is following the Region’s encampment protocol to ensure shelter assistance is offered to those in encampments and notices of trespass are issued to those who decline shelter assistance and choose to stay on these City-owned lands.”
Up to this point, the public has heard very little about just how many tent communities there are in Burlington and how many people have chosen to live “roughly” in the city
Hey editor: just remove the word “choose”. It’s a loaded term in this context. A “choice” between a shelter in Hamilton and a tent by the railway tracks is not much of a choice at all.
Editor’s response: Could not agree more – but the reality is that these people need help and we are not delivering.
There is a breakfast program at several of the elementary school where police volunteers show up to serve scrambled eggs. I woulds like to see the police taking breakfast out to those people living in tents and ensuring that they are working on a plan to get them out of the circumstances they live in.
Homelessness has to be dealt with by all 3 levels of government to be successful.
In Burlington, in the past, when the police were called to help someone who was homeless they were taken to Hamilton.
When questioned why there was no homeless shelter in Burlington the response was that it was the Region that handled this problem.
Quite a few years ago there was a fire that was started in an abandoned house in Burlington when the person who was squatting was trying to warm up a can of food using a candle and left the premises.
I can believe that propane fires were started. It is cold outside and one would do whatever to try to keep warm.
Homelessness is not new to Burlington. It is simply not talked about.
There is no simple answer in dealing with homelessness.
I was told the same some years ago that the Burlington homeless were taken to Hamilton. I was also told that Hamilton was a dumping ground for the mentally ill, drug-addicted and homeless from every jurisdiction because the Province pays for facilities within Hamilton. Thoughts?
“Choose to live roughly” … Really?? Very poor choice of words, in my opinion! I don’t know too many people who would “choose” this lifestyle. All it takes is the loss one pay cheque or one family emergency to flip someone’s world upside down. For those soles that are fighting addiction /mental health issues it’s easy to say it is their own fault but just like a physical illness, most would not “choose” it.
Editor’s note: My point was that they “chose” to live roughly rather than stay at a shelter.
Pepper’s comment is correct but certainly needs more of a verbose answer. Shelters have rules. many of the unhoused choose “rough” as this provides them absolute freedom. Having worked in Toronto most of my life, the unhoused usually had a dog as their best friend and confidant. If shelters could find this as part of the “wrap-around” solutions, I am sure we could shelter another 10% of the population. Now i will sound cold and callous. The drug addicts that wander in and out lose that privilege as well because of their behaviour. Sanitariums are the safe space for them with proper medication and nourishment. i would like that re-instituted for the benefit of the community at large. as one of the richest countries on the planet, I think we can afford it and should save these poor souls from themselves.
Fires at both encampments? Sounds strange.