Authorities clear out homeless tent encampment at Colonial Building

Police and workers in white suits and balaclavas began clearing out the tent encampment outside Colonial Building in St. John's on Friday morning.

The move comes two days after the provincial government posted signs around the encampment saying tents and unauthorized structures would be removed. 

The signs included the phone number for the emergency shelter line for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC).

Reporters at the scene saw workers taking tents apart and putting personal belongings in plastic bags. 

Infrastructure Minister John Abbott said a number of tents were abandoned, so the government asked a contractor to remove them but to also make sure any personal belongings were held separately.

Workers collected items from around the site in garbage bags, loading them into a large truck.

WATCH | After months, tents in Bannerman Park taken down by police:

Tent encampment dismantled by police, people in hazmat suits

7 months ago

Duration 0:47

A tent encampment in Bannerman Park in St. John’s has been taken down. Police and workers in white hazmat suits went from tent to tent and, if no one was in a tent at the time, items like sleeping bags, clothing and tarps were taken out and put into clear garbage bags. Provincial Infrastructure Minister John Abbott said earlier this week the encampment had to go but gave no timeline.

Temporary orange plastic fencing was placed around the encampment early Friday.

Abbott said this was done to secure the site.

"We do have authority to make sure that there is no unauthorized use of any of our public facilities," he said. "Having it secured allows our officials to work with the individuals concerned without any interference." 

Volunteers attempted to salvage items. Requests were made on social media by protest organizer Tent City for Change for people to help collect the camp residents' gear and personal items, and police allowed trucks in for people to gather the items and assisted volunteers in loading trucks.

Housing advocate Mark Wilson said NLHC workers and staff with the provincial Department of Transportation and infrastructure were also on scene. He described the police as providing an "intermediate role" and providing safety.

Now residents are trying to figure out where they will go. 

"I'm really sad to see this resolved in this way," said Wilson. "There was no consultation with residents and we still believe that there's inadequate housing that people are being offered as their only solution.… I certainly wanted to see tent city end but I didn't wanted to see it end this way."

A CBC Investigation published in October found that dozens of complaints were made to NLHC including lack of food, violence, uncleanliness and unwanted solicitation from female clients. 

"The whole focus of the work we're doing at the Colonial tent encampment site is working with the individuals concerned, those in the tents … working with them to finding a suitable accommodation, and that work is ongoing," said Abbott, whose district includes the neighbourhood.

According to Abbott, NLHC and other housing groups worked with tent city residents to find alternative accommodations. He said nine individuals accepted the new accommodations and that three others remained. 

Wilson said one resident with multiple disabilities was not able to find appropriate housing. "The most tragic situation I've seen…they left before providing them with safe housing," he said. 

Abbott said the government is working to make sure any individual needs are met, including specialized accommodations. 

Earlier this week, Housing Minister Fred Hutton said the encampment had become unsafe, pointing to a fire caused by the use of propane at the camp. Wilson said residents didn't have many options.

"Of course, propane heaters in tents were never anybody's first choice, but there was nothing done by the government," Hutton said this week. 

Wilson said he and other advocates met with the provincial government's task force on homelessness in December and suggested ideas for housing and support.

He also said advocates have continued to send e-mails with ideas to the task force but the government hasn't responded.

Abbott said there has been communication with residents daily. 

"We've had multiple conversations with them. We hear what they're saying. I don't think they're hearing what we're saying, but you know, so be it," Abbott said. 

Abbott said the government is investing millions of dollars into housing, including by providing housing at the Comfort Inn on 106 Airport Rd., building rental housing, and expanding the Gathering Place.

He said government is also working with community agencies including Thrive, Stella's Circle and other recognized housing advocates to develop solutions. 

But Wilson said volunteers have had to fill the gaps where the government has failed, Wilson said, in terms of providing necessities for life like food, water, heat and shelter.

"This is the biggest failure for homeless people that I've ever seen by the government," he said.

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