'Where do they want me to go?': Kitchener man told to move tents from city property

Mark Ashley has been ordered to pack up his belongings and clear the space he's been calling home.

For the last two weeks, Ashley and his dog Mable have been living in three tents on a strip of land bordering the Centre in the Square parking lot at 101 Queen St. N., next to the Kitchener Public Library.

On Friday, Ashley was given a City of Kitchener notice that said he was in violation of parks bylaw 270, which prohibits people from constructing or erecting shelter such as a tent for personal use in a park owned or managed by the city, Ashley told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

CBC has obtained a copy of the notice of violation.

The notice said Ashley has to be gone no later than Tuesday and if he doesn't comply, he will be removed from the space and charged with trespassing.

"I don't understand where else we're supposed to go, where else anybody would go if they were homeless," he said. "Where do they want me to go?"

Ashley said he doesn't have any housing options and can't go to most overnight shelters because they're not pet friendly. 

He said the situation has left him "sad, frustrated, angry [and] just minimized."

 Ashley said he has no plans to leave, but if it comes down to it, he'll pitch his tents elsewhere. 

"They just keep moving me."

A spokesperson for the city said in an emailed statement the notice from bylaw was issued after the city received complaints about the tents.

City looking for options

The spokesperson said bylaw officials warned Ashley early on, a day or two after he pitched his tents, that he wouldn't be able to stay. Since then, officials have been working with the region and community partners to find an alternative housing option for Ashley that would also accommodate his dog. 

"[Eviction] would be a last resort as staff are usually able to work with individuals and partners to find a better solution," said Ward 10 Coun. Sarah Marsh in an interview with CBC News.

"There are no easy answers. But I know those working in social services and responses to homelessness are working around the clock. They're working very hard to make sure they're doing everything they can and I think we need to put our heads together and keep working toward better solutions."

Marsh said the city is working with the region to address growing concerns around homelessness.

More supports needed  

The Region of Waterloo's affordable housing plan says it will develop up to 2,500 new homes over the next five years with more than 600 now in development.

Nicole Janssen, part of the 519 Community Collective, lives across the street from where Ashley has camped out, and said they've become friends.

"I'm very disappointed and I'm very saddened," she said of the notice. "They're giving him the Band-Aid effect. Let's quickly fix this. Let's not [let] anybody see it."

She said building more affordable housing units is one solution, but she wants to see more short-term support.

"Do something in the meantime … these people need right now help," she said, suggesting a sanctioned encampment site.

Before Ashley moved to his current location, he was at an encampment at 100 Victoria St., where about 50 people live.

People at that encampment were given an eviction notice Monday that said they needed to leave the site by June 30.