THUNDER BAY — Organizations that provide outreach services to people without a permanent home have never seen a situation such as the one they're witnessing this summer in Thunder Bay.
At this time last year, Elevate NWO had counted 55 individuals living in tents in various encampments around the city.
In early June this year the figure was 88.
Currently, there are about 140 people in these encampments — a 250 per cent increase from last summer — and officials believe that perhaps 10 to 15 others may be sheltering on their own in other locations, in vehicles, or are relocating so frequently they are not being counted.
"It's consistent pretty much with what we're seeing across the province," said Elevate NWO executive director Holly Gauvin.
"But it's also related to the housing shortage that we're experiencing. We're seeing people coming into town hoping to access services or resources because they're struggling in their own communities, and finding out that the struggle is here as well."
Gauvin said there are also a number of individuals who have been asked to leave their apartments for a number of reasons, and this is compounded by the fact that a couple of buildings in the city have been condemned this year.
"There's a whole range of reasons why we're seeing these increases. The shelters are actually pretty full at the same time, so it's not that people have decided to leave the shelters and go out into the streets.
"It's a really concerning trend."
Gauvin said frontline workers who provide services to the homeless worry constantly about their welfare.
"Because we've seen a number of violent episodes, a number of things happen where people have been poorly treated simply because they are struggling in life. There's also a lot of worry every time it rains heavily, or the weather turns. We've got about another 60 days of tolerable weather, and then it can turn so bad."
Outreach worker Jonathan Green said he's seeing a lot of strength among the individuals living in encampments, but many do require supports.
"I see resilience, but I see a lot of hardship, and asking for help. I try to be there for them with whatever tools I have to get them to their next level, whatever that is."
Green may drop by with breakfast, dry socks, harm reduction supplies, or a sleeping bag, but on other occasions he finds that his clients just need someone to talk to and connect with.
He expects that more affordable housing will be on the way, but for now, but "it looks like we've got a lot of work to do. We need more people out there making connections with people and finding the right resources to get them off the streets."
Green encourages anyone wanting to help out to contact one of the local groups that work with the homeless to make donations or volunteer,
"There are so many organizations out there. Norwest, PACE, Métis Nation of Ontario, Indigenous Friendship Centre, Shelter House. We all try to work with each other. I'm just going off the top of my head."
He said he's well aware that property-owners may have difficulty accepting the presence of an encampment in their neighbourhood, but he hopes for empathy for people such as a man he knows who was living outdoors last winter.
"When he was homeless, it was too cold on the concrete, so he would sleep on the bench. But on the bench it was too cold in the wind, so he had to alternate from the ground to the bench throughout the night. Sometimes when people hear stuff like that, they ease up a bit. Everybody deserves kindness, right?"
Gauvin acknowledged that the Ontario government this year announced a tripling of funding for homelessness prevention, which will eventually result in new housing stock in the city, but until those facilities materialize, she expects encampments will continue to grow.
She noted that even individuals who have full-time jobs are currently challenged to find suitable housing.
"I had a conversation today with a young lady and her partner who are both working, but struggling to make ends meet because they're making less than the living wage for Thunder Bay, which is about $19 an hour. But in order to make that 30 per cent ratio of rent [as a share of income], you have to be making $22 an hour."
