Homelessness volunteer says Regina police chief's comments on city hall encampment concerning

A Regina homelessness advocate says the police chief's comments condemning a tent encampment outside city hall are concerning.

The encampment emerged after police and bylaw officials shut down a gathering in Pepsi Park providing free meals to mark the one-year anniversary of "the city's failed promise to end homelessness."

Organizers and attendees at Pepsi Park packed up all the supplies and moved to Regina city hall. The encampment has continued to grow since.

Police Chief Evan Bray spoke about it Thursday at the unveiling of the new Regina Police Service (RPS) headquarters. He called it more of a protest than an encampment. 

Bray said he feels people are using it, "to exploit homeless people," and "using this as a grandstand to stick it to the government, to stick it to city hall."

 "To me this is not about trying to do what's necessarily best for the homeless people, the people who need the help."

Bray said the RPS remains committed to helping people experiencing homelessness. He said many people at the encampment don't have pure intentions.

"There are people out there that go home to their beds at the end of the night that are using people in their most dire times to make political points," Bray said. "There are people even doing a speaking circuit now, talking about the work that they've done. 

"It becomes very self-serving and that very much frustrates me."

Advocate troubled by Bray's comments

Alysia Johnson, a volunteer with Rally Around Homelessness in Regina, said the police chief's comments were disheartening.

"Lots of us aren't sitting atop of this in a place of privilege where everything is about politics and messaging is everything," Johnson said. "We are people who fundamentally are driven to take care of neighbours and take care of each other."

Johnson said Bray's words hurt people that are doing their best to support the city's most vulnerable population. She said many have experienced homelessness themselves — including her.

"It's just a shame to throw helpers under the bus, who have already endured so much trauma and been through so much," Johnson said.

Johnson said the homelessness crisis in Regina is getting worse. She attended the gathering in Pepsi Park and said hundreds of meals were served.

"We are already in a crisis but we are heading into very dangerous territory if someone doesn't intervene."

She said city hall was chosen for the encampment because bylaw enforcement officers can't evict them from that spot.

"It's also an opportunity to confront it head on, be real about the seriousness and gravity of the [homelessness crisis]," Johnson said.