Immediate Action to Support the City’s Most Marginalized 2022 08 05 | Agreed Upon Solutions Action Plan Who Will Do What By When 1a. Community Task Force with City (bylaw involvement) The referral process for sharing concerns regarding encampments remains the same. service@london.ca | service.london.ca | 519-661-CITY (2489) As part of the process, Municipal Law Enforcement Officers will only be involved at the request of frontline workers Community Task Force: define threshold when bylaw would be appropriate Initial Examples: - Having someone the person trusts be present as they meet with bylaw officer - Building on ‘when it works’ for frontline and bylaw (tell us a time when it went well) - When community members become ‘vigilante-like’ regarding encampments (when things are escalating) Effective immediately 1b. City (bylaw) with Community involvement Municipal Law Enforcement Officers are required to enforce bylaws (as per parameters in solution 1) (see page 4) Community Task Force: Work on how to support bylaw officer at encampment Initial Examples: - Having someone the person trusts be present as they meet with bylaw officer - If needing medical attention, LIHC’s Health Outreach Mobile Engagement Team can be available - Tools in toolbox (for the bylaw officer to know who to reach out to) Ongoing Strengthened approach as soon the community is ready 1a & b Community & Bylaw - Consider the development of an Integrated Encampment Response Team (for when 1 and 2 are needed) Longer Term 2.City Have the Community train Municipal Law Enforcement Officers on such things as low barrier approached, harm reduction and trauma-informed work) Agencies to deliver training: - LIHC providing training on values-based training - AtLohsa provides cultural safety training for our homelessness sector - Ensuring people with living experience are part of training (with honorarium, fund available through the City) As soon as the group is ready 3. London Cares, City (with Community Task Force) Invest resources with London Cares to shore up the work of Outreach Workers through one-time funding that can then be considered for longer term funding. London Cares will work collaboratively with Outreach agencies: - To include bringing together identifying ways to coordinate response and identify gaps for resources - To include LC, LIHC, SafeSpace, 519Pursuit, Project Hope, AtLohsa, OAHAS, MLHU, RHAC, SWISH As soon as London Cares is ready Action Plan for Asks 1 & 2: Action Plan Who Will Do What By When 4. Community Task Force with City support Provide materials of what you can/can’t do in an encampment from a bylaw perspective as well as with neighbours and business costed through London Cares, funded by the City In the future as the model developed 5. City Provide water (and food for acute needs), (e.g. double the water supply through London Cares (from 1 skid to 2 skids immediately), to be funded by the City This upcoming week the City will provide the water directly to London Cares for distribution By Monday 6. City Increase showers for people living in encampments • Use of shower trailer • Rent other shower trailers if required • Fund community partners for one time capital investments to increase showers in the community London Cares to facilitate dialogue about where showers need to be located ASAP 7. City The City will provide community partners with weekly encampment reports inclusive of # of tickets open, closed and resolutions (with other pertinent data to be added over time) August 15 8. London Cares Accepts this commitment with the support of community agencies with a process to manage the allocation and roll out Immediately 9. Community Task Force To implement all of these actions/solutions Action: London Cares (ED), co-chair of the London Homeless Coalition, other agencies to meet and determine best approach. Ensuring the voices and perspectives of frontline workers are at the table Next Week Action Plan 1 & 2 Proposed Solution - Parameters for Removing Encampments by Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Removing encampments, tents, campsites or squats is limited to: 1. There is a complaint filed when on private property 2. It is blocking a sidewalk 3. It is on a road 4. A larger encampment is being created (to be defined by the action group) and with consultation 1. 6 tents/make shift supportive structures and less 5. A restriction is set by Council that the City must follow (or the action group advocates for that to change) 1. 546 parks in London, 14 designated restricted areas 6. There are significant health & safety concerns but only as a last resort and with consultation of London Cares whenever possible, (and others that can support e.g. HOME Team (LIHC), SafeSpace, Atlhosa as appropriate] Examples: 1. Open fires occurring (burning down encampments), explosive materials near by (fire department being unsafe) – guided by fire code/fire department 1. Are there ways in increase safety fires? 2. Constructions (large machinery) 3. Flood plains in the Spring (where things can flood) 4. Reported incidences of violence (people being assaulted) 5. Safety issues of those living encampments for their personal safety Solution #3 - 24/7 support The initial meeting with respect to planning for 24/7 supports will occur within the context of community planning for medium and long term support. There is immediacy in getting this plan in place ahead of the winter months that will rapidly come. There are other projects that will need to be considered in this planning such as: - Community Hub (Adelaide & Queen) - Unity & AtLohsa Project - Circle of Support The team will be composed of representatives from a variety of service providers. The initial meeting will occur Tuesday August 16, 9-11am. The goal is to have a plan ready within 4 weeks. Endorsement - Frontline Staff and Leaders who were present at the last meeting • Andrea Sereda, Physician, LIHC, TheForgotten519 • Anne Armstrong, Executive Director, London Cares Homeless Response Services • Anne-Marie Sanchez, Senior Manager, The London InterCommunity Health Centre • Assinyiskew (Jenna Rose Sands) - TheForgotten519/Director of SafeSpace London • C.J. McDougall, London Cares Homeless Response Services, Street Outreach • Chuck Lazenby Executive Director, Unity Project • Craig Cooper Director Housing Stability Services, City of London • Darlene Zaifman-Guslits SLWAR- Housing Finder • Jaclyn Seeler- Manager of Street Level Women at Risk/ Co-Chair of the London Homeless Coalition • Jessica Manzara- London Intercommunity Health Centre, Care Facilitator • Josh Poynter, Middlesex-London Health Unit, Outreach Nurse • Kait Symonds, St. Leonard’s Community Services, Project Hope Team Lead • Kevin Dickins, Deputy City Manager Social and Health Development, City of London • Leticia Mizon, TheForgotten519/Ontario Network of People Who Use Drugs • Mike Pottruff, Foot Patrol, London Police Servicess • NA • Sarah Collins, The Salvation Army London Centre of Hope, Program Director • William Needham, St. Leonard's Community Services, Housing Stability Worker