Latest news with #encampments
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Sudbury homeless crisis hits record high amid warmer weather
Greater Sudbury's homeless population hits a record 300 nightly, with people living in 34 encampments accross the city and shelters full. The number of people living in encampments in Greater Sudbury has surged, with local charities and city officials reporting unprecedented demand for services. Go-Give homeless The Go Give Project, a mobile outreach charity assisting the homeless, says it is now helping close to 300 people nightly – the highest number in its history. The organization's programs manager, Ali Farooq and exectutive director, Evie Ali, are shown standing next to the office's exterior sign. (File photo/CTV News Northern Ontario) The Go-Give Project, a mobile outreach charity assisting the homeless, says it is now helping close to 300 people nightly – the highest number in its history. 'This has been a very big jump and a very quick jump,' said Ali Farooq, the Programs Manager for the Go-Give Project. 'Last year, we were seeing just under 200 people. One of our busiest nights was just over 200, but this summer there has been a boom in individuals that we have been serving.' During daytime operations, outreach workers report more than 150 daily interactions with homeless individuals on the streets and in encampments. 'A general lack of places where our unhoused folks can congregate and spend the day,' Farooq said. The City of Greater Sudbury confirms a 34 per cent increase in encampment residents compared to last year. 'We are aware of 200 people actually living in encampments across 34 locations in the City of Greater Sudbury, and that is an increase of 34 per cent over last year at this time,' said Gail Spencer, the coordinator of shelters and homelessness for the city. Shelters are at capacity, but Spencer said outreach workers help connect people with available resources. 'We certainly encourage people to use all the public spaces that are available to them,' Spencer said. 'The Samaritan Centre is open during the day for access to washrooms and food and showers and water and things like that and just to get out of the sun.' The Go-Give Project also operates the Welcoming Streets program, which responds to non-emergency calls about social disturbances downtown. Farooq said calls have increased, exacerbated by addiction issues and a lack of basic amenities. 'Given the combination of drug use as well as addictions, it does intensify the interactions,' Farooq said. 'Also, access to bathrooms, access to clean drinking water – it's a constant need and a need that needs to be fulfilled.' The city said client navigators distribute reusable water bottles, and downtown water fountains are available. However, with rising temperatures and more people living outdoors. The Go Give Project is appealing for bottled water donations.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘We're gonna clean it up': Kern County runs multi-agency encampment clearing
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The sheriff's office and public works joined by code enforcement and animal control cleared multiple homeless encampments Friday morning. Kern County District Three Supervisor Jeff Flores organized and joined the agencies in this feat. The county started clearing homeless encampments around 7 a.m. and they hit spots around Oildale and east Bakersfield. 'We can't allow trespassing, we cannot allow drug use, we cannot allow these unsafe encampments, enough is enough, and everyone working together we can make a difference,' said Supervisor Flores. Officials remind drivers — especially teens — to exercise caution during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer Five areas total, on North Chester Avenue and Roberts Lane, the on-ramp on Olive Drive, an empty lot on North Chester, and on Mt. Vernon Avenue and Niles Street. Fernando Loaiza, a three-year Oildale resident walks down North Chester Avenue and Roberts Lane daily. Loaiza sees the homeless and is very happy that the county is clearing the encampments. 'It's all cleaned up and the governor is doing a very good job, and kern county, and the sheriff's department are doing a very good job,' Loaiza said. On the Olive Drive on-ramp to Highway 99, upset homeless watched as their belongings were picked up and put in trash. 'They told me I could grab one thing or two, but…oh my god he's gonna. That dollhouse he spent months trying to find get me and they just threw it away,' said Melanie Armstrong, as she watched a dollhouse she owned get put in the trash. Armstrong has lived homeless with her boyfriend, Adam Lewis for almost two years. She says she has mental health issues and Lewis has a mental disability, hindering them on finding steady work. Never miss a story: Make your homepage 'No one helps us, we just kind of get pushed on the backburner in a way, and it feels like they're always after us,' said Lewis. KCSO has not released the results of the encampment clearings. 'Folks will get the message that help is available, you don't have to live like this, and we're gonna clean it up,' said Supervisor Flores. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
What to know about California Gov. Gavin Newsom's move to ban encampments
SAN FRANCISCO — California's governor called upon the state's cities and counties to ban homeless encampments this week, even providing blueprint legislation for dismantling the tents lining streets, parks and waterways throughout much of the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, made homelessness a priority of his administration when he took office in 2019. It had previously been an issue primarily for mayors and other local officials, but Newsom pumped money into converting old motels into housing and launched other initiatives to tackle the issue.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
What to know about California Gov. Gavin Newsom's move to ban encampments
California 's governor called upon the state's cities and counties to ban homeless encampments this week, even providing blueprint legislation for dismantling the tents lining streets, parks and waterways throughout much of the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, made homelessness a priority of his administration when he took office in 2019. It had previously been an issue primarily for mayors and other local officials, but Newsom pumped money into converting old motels into housing and launched other initiatives to tackle the issue. Still, he has repeatedly called out cities and counties to do their part, and on Monday, he unveiled draft language that can be adopted by local governments to remove encampments. Here is what to know: What does the model ordinance say? Newsom's model ordinance includes prohibitions on 'persistent camping' in one location and encampments blocking sidewalks and other public spaces. It asks cities and counties to provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter before clearing an encampment. What do local governments say? Organizations representing California's cities and counties balked at the suggestion that they are to blame for street conditions. They say they need dedicated, sustained funding over multiple years for permanent projects instead of sporadic, one-time funding. Carolyn Coleman, executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities, said that eight in 10 cities have policies to address encampments but they need money to address the root causes of homelessness, such as more housing. The California State Association of Counties said the state has not provided as much money to address homelessness as it says it has and that half of the money has gone to housing developers. What do homeless advocates say? Studies have shown that encampment bans and other punitive measures make it even harder for people to find stable housing and work, said Alex Visotzky with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. People may lose critical documents or lose contact with a trusted case manager, forcing them to start all over again. In Los Angeles, Jay Joshua watches over a small encampment in which he also lives. He says encampments can be a safe space for those living there. What are California cities doing about encampments? Major cities with Democratic mayors have already started cracking down on encampments, saying they present a public health and safety hazard. In San Francisco, new mayor Daniel Lurie vowed to clean up city sidewalks. In San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan has proposed arrests if a person refuses shelter three times. Do cities and counties have to adopt it? Newsom can't make cities and counties adopt an encampment ban. But the proposed encampment legislation was paired with an announcement of $3.3 billion in grant money for facilities to treat mental health and substance abuse disorders, suggesting that he could condition state funding on compliance. In 2022, he paused $1 billion in state money for local government, saying that their plans to reduce homelessness fell short of the acceptable.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
What to know about California Gov. Gavin Newsom's move to ban encampments
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California's governor called upon the state's cities and counties to ban homeless encampments this week, even providing blueprint legislation for dismantling the tents lining streets, parks and waterways throughout much of the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, made homelessness a priority of his administration when he took office in 2019. It had previously been an issue primarily for mayors and other local officials, but Newsom pumped money into converting old motels into housing and launched other initiatives to tackle the issue. Still, he has repeatedly called out cities and counties to do their part, and on Monday, he unveiled draft language that can be adopted by local governments to remove encampments. Here is what to know: What does the model ordinance say? Newsom's model ordinance includes prohibitions on 'persistent camping' in one location and encampments blocking sidewalks and other public spaces. It asks cities and counties to provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter before clearing an encampment. What do local governments say?Organizations representing California's cities and counties balked at the suggestion that they are to blame for street conditions. They say they need dedicated, sustained funding over multiple years for permanent projects instead of sporadic, one-time funding. Carolyn Coleman, executive director and CEO of the League of California Cities, said that eight in 10 cities have policies to address encampments but they need money to address the root causes of homelessness, such as more housing. The California State Association of Counties said the state has not provided as much money to address homelessness as it says it has and that half of the money has gone to housing developers. What do homeless advocates say? Studies have shown that encampment bans and other punitive measures make it even harder for people to find stable housing and work, said Alex Visotzky with the National Alliance to End Homelessness. People may lose critical documents or lose contact with a trusted case manager, forcing them to start all over again. In Los Angeles, Jay Joshua watches over a small encampment in which he also lives. He says encampments can be a safe space for those living there. What are California cities doing about encampments? Major cities with Democratic mayors have already started cracking down on encampments, saying they present a public health and safety hazard. In San Francisco, new mayor Daniel Lurie vowed to clean up city sidewalks. In San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan has proposed arrests if a person refuses shelter three times. Do cities and counties have to adopt it? Newsom can't make cities and counties adopt an encampment ban. But the proposed encampment legislation was paired with an announcement of $3.3 billion in grant money for facilities to treat mental health and substance abuse disorders, suggesting that he could condition state funding on compliance. In 2022, he paused $1 billion in state money for local government, saying that their plans to reduce homelessness fell short of the acceptable.
