'I don't have a lot of other options'
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Isaiah Smoke returned to the tent city on Newport Street on Monday to participate in a meet-and-greet organized by residents.
“Actually, I’m here every day but I don’t live here anymore,” said Smoke, a former resident during the summer of the Welcome Love Camp. “I come by to help clean up the camp and talk to people.
“Maybe some will want to follow my path.”
In August, Smoke was among a handful of people living in an encampment behind the Brantford and District Labour Centre.
The population of the tent city, by Smoke’s estimation, has tripled.
“I’m living in the sober house now,” Smoke said. “I got into the new detox program down on Elgin Street and as of today (Monday) I’m 26 days clean.
“I got a lot of help. I’m pretty lucky.”
The residential substance withdrawal and treatment centre is operated by St. Leonard’s Community Services. Getting help from the agency was Smoke’s first step to a new life.
He said he never wants to again live in a tent city.
“Where I’m staying right now – the sober house – it’s warm, there aren’t any bugs crawling up my leg at night and you don’t have to worry about anyone trying to rip you off when you’re sleeping at night.”
Norm Maille, 53, was among several tent city residents, who agreed to speak to reporters about the encampment.
He said he wants to be “someplace warm” with the advent of colder weather.
“Living here is OK for now, but it’s going to get cold soon,” he said.
“I don’t have a lot of other options. The rents are too high.”
Maille, who has toiled at local farms over the years, injured his leg, which he said makes working difficult.
The city has 65 emergency shelter adult beds divided amongst three agencies – Rosewood House on Nelson Street, the Salvation Army Booth Centre on Dalhousie Street and Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services for women and children. That’s up from 45 beds the city had available prior to implementing changes to the system last year.
Despite the change, the city has run into difficulties. Just over a week ago, the shelters were at capacity, as were motels, which the city uses in extreme emergencies, forcing people to be turned away.
Since then, city officials have been working to find a solution, reaching out to church groups and community agencies for help.
Kevin, a 35-year-old resident of the tent city, praised at least one of the city’s initiatives aimed at helping the homeless.
“The outreach team is really good,” said Kevin, who asked that his last name not be used. “They help out a lot.
“They’ve helped people who have had their blankets stolen and they come around with water, which is great.”
Beginning work a couple of months ago, the downtown outreach team seeks to help the homeless.
But finding shelter for people like Kevin is difficult.
“I’m here with my wife and there really isn’t anything for us,” he said.
“She has some mental health issues and doesn’t like shelters – I think she had a bad experience in one – something she don’t want to talk about.
“I’m trying to help her out with that and here, at least, we can be together”
In a shelter, the couple would be separated.
Kevin and his wife, like many of the others, would like a better place to live but say high rents and the lack of affordable housing make it difficult.
Meanwhile, they say, the camp is a good place to stay for now.
Asked where he’d like to be in a year, Kevin said he wants to be reunited with his children.
“They’re five, eight and 12 and they’re staying with family now.”
City councillors Joshua Wall and Brian Van Tilborg, who represent Ward 5 where the encampment is located, were among those at Monday’s event. Also there was Ian Aitken, co-director of the Community Legal Clinic.
Aitken said the encampments are the result of a situation that has been building for the past two or three years with a combination of low rates paid by Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program and an increase in rents.
“I’m dealing with clients every day that either have to leave their home or are being pressured to leave,” said Aitken.
He said those who have to leave their homes are marginalized people, who have either lost a job or can’t work because of injury, while others are battling physical or mental health issues or addictions.
When they lose their home, there is nowhere for them to go, Aitken said.
He noted that social housing is in such short supply that a single person who isn’t a senior and has no dependents can wait up to 10 years for an affordable place to live.
Meanwhile, Wall and Van Tilborg carried with them information sheets about how to access local shelters.
“We were invited to the event today and we’re here to listen, that’s our job,” Wall said.
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