Homeless encampment clearings cost the City of Toronto more than $1.5 million this summer
The City of Toronto has released information on the cost of multiple encampment clearings that took place over the summer.
According to the city, the clearing of homeless encampments in three public parks and subsequent clean-up cost just shy of $2 million.
The city released the numbers, breaking the costs down into staffing, landscaping and fencing on Friday. The breakdown, as provided by the city, is as follows:
Staffing costs associated with trespass enforcement, including contracted security costs:
- Trinity Bellwoods Park - $416,690
- Alexandra Park - $200,049
- Lamport Stadium Park- $223,388
Landscaping restoration costs:
- Trinity Bellwoods Park - $54,700
- Alexandra Park- $375,156
- Lamport Stadium Park - $362,812
Total fencing costs: approximately $357,000
The city began clearing encampments in late June, citing safety concerns. According to the city, unregulated temporary structures present a threat of uncontrolled fires, while also breaking municipal bylaws.
“The enforcement followed several months of engagement with encampment occupants to encourage them to come inside where they have access to meals, laundry, medical and social supports, and a housing worker,” a release from the city reads.
The first clearing took place in Trinity Bellwoods Park on June 22. The removal saw clashes between activists and police. Police reported “several” arrests soon afterwards and later announced three charges.
The city says that 30 metric tonnes of debris and 25 metric tonnes of “contaminated grass, soil and sand” were removed from the property following the clearing.
Approximately a month later, encampments in Lamport Stadium and Alexandra Park were removed. These clearings were also met with protests and resulted in 35 total arrests.
The city says 19.5 metric tonnes of debris were removed from Alexandra Park and nine metric tonnes were removed from Lamport Stadium.
Housing activists and protestors have been consistent in their opposition to the clearings.
In late July, the Encampment Support Network called for the resignation of Toronto Mayor John Tory, saying the encampment clearings were a “brutal assault” on the city’s homeless population.
“They are brutalizing people indiscriminately, including the residents of encampments. Tory has compared what happened at Lamport to the previous day’s eviction at Alexandra Park, saying the former was only violent because of the presence of protesters. This ignores the reality that forced displacement is in itself violent,” the group said.
The group called on the city to adopt recommendations put forward by the Toronto Drop-In Network, outlined in a document titled “A Path Forward,” which claims that forcible removal of the homeless community “has no place in a caring, compassionate society” and “does not address the issues [the city is] trying to solve.”
Those recommendations were echoed in a separate letter penned by councillors Shelley Carroll, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Gordon Perks and Kristyn Wong-Tam.
Since the start of the pandemic, the city says it has referred 835 people from four major encampments to indoor shelter. That includes 94 people referred from Trinity Bellwoods, 169 people referred from Alexandra Park, 159 people referred from Lamport Stadium and 413 people referred from Moss Park.
The city has not released the percentage of those individuals that ultimately secured long-term indoor housing from the referrals.
The city also says that, since mid-December 2020, it has opened more than 570 supportive homes, adding that its “planning to open more than 900 permanent, affordable and supportive homes over the next 12 months.”
The city also says that a number of amenities have been able to reopen since the clearings.
“Following enforcement, the parks have been open to all residents,” the city said.
“Children's summer day camps closed due to the encampment were able to open in Alexandra Park along with the splash pad, pool, dry pad and rink including a pop-up skateboard park, and community garden [and] permits for use of the sports field at Lamport Stadium that were cancelled as a result of encampments have now resumed.”
On Thursday, the City announced that it made three additional arrests in connection with a protest that occurred outside Toronto Police’s 14 Division following the clearings in July. They also released images of eight individuals who police say are outstanding suspects in connectin with assaults on officers.
With files from CTV Toronto's Phil Tsekouras and CP24's Kerrisa Wilson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.