The homeless crisis in London is continuing to worsen, presenting outreach workers with the formidable task of reaching 70 encampments across the city. As of the beginning of December, approximately 300 individuals are currently sleeping outside, making the situation increasingly dire and challenging.
In past years, many homeless individuals were able to find temporary shelter with friends or family during the winter months. However, this year, the usual respite, known as ‘self-resolution’ to outreach workers, has been less common. Greg Nash, who is involved with the London Intercommunity Health Centre and oversees the homeless encampment strategy, has noted that this lack of self-resolution has made it more difficult to accurately count the number of people in need and to distribute essential supplies.
The increasing number of encampments scattered throughout the city has necessitated outreach workers to travel extensively, from Byron to Argyle to North London to South London, in order to provide assistance. Despite the opening of 268 new beds and over 200 day and evening spaces, the existing shelters are still at full capacity and are unable to meet the growing demand.
In addition to the scarcity of shelter, there has been a surge in encampment fires, prompting fire crews to distribute warm clothing and provide fire safety lessons to those living outside. With about a dozen fires reported in the past two months, outreach workers and fire crews are working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of the unsheltered population.
The city has also established depots to cater to individuals living in tents, and these facilities will remain open throughout the winter due to overwhelming demand. Furthermore, outreach teams and community partners will continue to provide support to the unsheltered population by directing them to available shelters, resting spaces, and transitional housing options, in addition to conducting daily wellness checks and providing essential supplies.
Individuals who are at risk of homelessness or are currently experiencing homelessness can contact the City’s Homeless Prevention and Housing team at 519-661-2489, while London Cares can be reached at 519-667-2273.
As London grapples with the escalating homeless crisis, it is crucial for the community to come together to support the unsheltered population and work towards finding sustainable solutions to address this pressing issue.
