Service depots near homeless encampments in London helped almost 300 people so far

Outreach workers at four service depots that are set up for a few hours every day along the Thames River have provided thousands of supplies to at least 295 people in homeless encampments in the first two weeks of operation.

"We're using a rights-based approach. Everyone in Canada has basic rights to clean drinking water, hygiene materials, sanitation, fire safety, waste management, social support and food security," said Greg Nash, the program manager of the London InterCommunity Health Centre.

While the data shows 295 people collected supplies being given out, some people pick up what is being distributed and hand them out among others they are living with.

"We know that there are 450 to 600 people sleeping outside every night," Nash said.

The program first began on July 4 and the data provided covers until July 18.

The locations of the service depots are near homeless encampments at Ann Street Park, Cavendish Park, Watson Street Park and Wellington Valley Park.

For an hour or two each day across the four locations, a mix of 60 front line workers and volunteers from 16 organizations set up to interact with those in the area who need help. 

"When the outreach workers show up, they come in vehicles. They set up a small collapsible table and then the Salvation Army and Ark Aid Street Mission come with their trucks and drop off the resources. The outreach workers do their thing, trucks come back after 90 minutes, pick up the resources and we're done for the day," Nash said.

Depots have provided thousands of supplies

In the first two weeks, outreach workers have given out 3,325 basic need items, including: 

• 2,400 water bottles
• 161 hygiene supplies
• 146 harm reduction kits
• 618 meal kits that include a bagged breakfast, a warm lunch and a boxed dinner.

"There's far less food available for people in drop-in spaces at churches and those sorts of things. Those programs have shrunk and at the same time the population who doesn't have access to them has grown substantially," Nash said.

Outreach workers also coordinate with the nearby neighbourhoods to make sure that interactions between housed and unhoused individuals in the camps are as safe and positive as possible.

Interactions with neighbourhoods in the areas are largely positive

There were 21 positive reports from neighbours and 16 instances of residents who want to help people in the encampments, according to numbers that will be presented to city councillors next week.

While the neighbours have been largely supportive of the efforts, especially since waste management companies have been working to remove garbage from the river-side areas twice daily, Nash said this is not a permanent solution to London's homelessness problem.

"This is very temporary and it's an interim solution for the next few months until we can develop more substantive solutions," he said.

Recently, police in St. Thomas had dismantled a homeless encampment after they deemed it unsafe.

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