People facing homelessness in Hamilton describe what they want the city to do

Homelessness advocates have criticized the city's community meetings on encampments for not centring the voices of people living on the streets.

But on Tuesday, many shared their personal stories with the wider community.

A demonstration with roughly 100 people before a city-hosted public meeting had numerous people living on the streets share their experiences.

The meeting in the Convention Centre that followed the rally also heard unhoused people speak to the more than 1,000 people in attendance.

The city has said it also previously consulted homelessness advocates and people living rough, as it now develops a new strategy for encampments. 

Here's what some people experiencing homelessness said Tuesday — about their own path, needs and the city's proposed plans.

Storm Mallinson

"Five years ago, I thought I had a perfect life," Storm Mallinson said.

He said he ended up homeless after his baby daughter died five years ago.

Mallinson met his fiancée while living on the streets, but "tragedy struck again."

A stabbing attack left her hospitalized, but she ended up surviving. They said they've been drug-free for five months.

"Yet still, here we are ... waiting for housing," he said.

Mallinson said people should get to choose if they want to be in a sanctioned encampment. He also said there should be options for people who want resources like job training.

Mallinson added having encampment sites that allow drug-use and ones that don't would be helpful.

The city said it would consider the idea.

Se Hawk

Se Hawk, who is also a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle clan, from Six Nations of the Grand River, said he has been experiencing homelessness for 11 years.

He said he's currently living in an encampment.

He said violence people face in encampments and encampments being destroyed needs to stop.

He said he wanted to see more social navigators, who are part of a program which sees a paramedic, police officer and coordinator with social services experience respond to non-criminal calls about vulnerable people, homelessness, addictions and mental health.

Amanda Clarke

Amanda Clarke said she's been in and out of homelessness since 2017.

She said she had housing but became homeless in February after a renoviction.

She said she has been living at an encampment near Barton Street East and Sanford Avenue North. She gets roughly $800 per month from Ontario Disability Support Program and struggles to find affordable housing.

Clarke said she has had trouble accessing services to help her and also said people in encampments face violence daily — from people who are homeless and people who aren't.

She said people facing homelessness shouldn't be isolated or tucked away where no one can see them.

"Pushing them into one area and leaving them there isn't going to solve the problem," Clarke said.

She said she'd like to see more funding toward health care, housing and more social services.

The city has said it can't tackle the homelessness issue alone and needs help from the province and federal government.

Aidan Gray 

Aidan Patrick Gray, 24, said he has been on and off the streets for eight years.

He said he lives with severe mental health issues and previously used drugs but is now five years sober.

He said support workers don't always know how to help him, he finds it hard to stay in shelters and struggles to access the resources he needs for his mental health problems.

"The fact I'm here talking in front of everyone is a miracle," Gray said.

Gray said he supports sanctioned encampments.

"We all need help, it doesn't matter if you own a house or you're on the streets," he said.

"I hope the city listens to what everyone is saying with kind words and kind hearts."