An encampment on Bay Street, tucked into the bushes near the trail system, across from the popular Rotary train, is being removed by municipal officials this week.
Linda Goodall, the executive director of the Lighthouse shelter, told OrilliaMatters two "very quiet" individuals previously occupied the encampment. A third individual created their own encampment within the vicinity which brought city staff to clean out the area.
"From my understanding, the one encampment just off the trail became a little bit louder," she said. "There was more garbage and more people involved ... that's why the city needed to remove it."
Goodall says encampments are, generally, not dangerous. She says they are typically occupied by quiet people who "mind their own business."
"It's unfortunate when encampments get more people involved," she said. "If there is, unfortunately, substance abuse as well, that's when it can get a little bit louder."
When encampments are occupied by people grappling with mental health and addiction issues, Goodall says they can be unpredictable.
"Encampments can be one tent," she said. “Typically, as long as people are quiet and are not on somebody's private property, then our outreach team can go out to support them."
After receiving a complaint about an encampment, Goodall says the city's bylaw enforcement officers will connect with the Lighthouse who will check in on the encampment.
"If it's something where we can work with them to relocate if that's what's needed, then we would do that," she said. "Occasionally, when you have encampments that get a little larger, louder, and ones that are a little more of a disruption to the community, then that's when they are removed."
Goodall says the former Bay Street residents will likely find a new place to set up an encampment.
"Depending on if we had space available at our shelter, we can sometimes get people onto our triage list," she said. "Sometimes they will move to another location because there is no other option."
Shawn Crawford, the city's director of legislative, building, parking, and transit services, said the encampment clean-up began last Friday "as a result of numerous safety-related complaints."
"The city works with community partners such as the Lighthouse Shelter Outreach Program, and the OPP to ensure a safe resolution, and to make the occupants aware of the support and resources available to them, including lodging," he said in a written statement to OrilliaMatters.
Orillia OPP Const. Brett Boniface says police are only contacted to engage with encampment removals when there is a concern for the safety of the individuals present.
"I can confirm that police attended to provide a standby to keep the peace while the individuals moved their belongings," he said.
