Concerned Regina citizens host open mic on homeless encampment strategy at city hall
A group of concerned Regina citizens hosted the open-mic "lunch n learn" at the city hall courtyard, following up on city council tabling its citizen's encampment strategy. The gathering was also intended to raise awareness for an upcoming encampment strategy vote.
Tanya Fleury, who is currently staying at a homeless shelter in Regina, spoke at the gathering. She said there's not enough space for everyone and the city needs to spend its funds differently.
"We don't need another pool, we need to put some people that live on the streets in a place that treats them like humans, because that's what we are. We're human."
In flyers passed out at the event, the group advocated for a commitment to not removing an encampment unless all of its residents have been provided with permanent, adequate, appropriate housing.
They also said support should be provided to encampments until residents have somewhere permanent to stay. That includes bathrooms with handwashing capability, potable water, garbage disposal and collection, and access to public transportation.
"Hearing the voices of residents is important in all of our decision making," said Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak, who also spoke at the event. "An event like this, where folks come out and they give their ideas for changes they would like to see, is really important. I'd like to see more of these kinds of events. This is democracy in action."
The group is also seeking to repeal laws and policies that criminalize homelessness in the city, including prohibition from being in parks late at night and erecting tents in public spaces without permits.
Mandla Mthembu, one of the organizers of the gathering, said that it was a chance for people to be heard.
"We just think there needs to be a co-ordinated strategy to meet those needs and involve the voices of the people that are living in these conditions, or else we're gonna keep pushing it off year after year," Mthembu said. "These strategies aren't going to do anything but make a lot of people feel like we're doing something, but leave people who are actually experiencing this out of the conversation."
The City's executive committee will meet to discuss the encampment strategy on August 20, and will vote on it at the city council meeting on August 27.
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