A homeless encampment, in a bush area off Atherley Road in behind the Giant Tiger mall, was cleared out on Tuesday.
There was a police presence at the encampment for much of the day as heavy machinery operators disposed of people’s belongings in dumpsters.
Orillia OPP Const. Shelby Russell says police were only onsite to “ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
Shawn Crawford, the city's director of legislative, building, parking, and transit services, says the clean-up on the private property was a result of numerous written complaints regarding the accumulation of waste, including used needles, and unsafe fires, which resulted in the Orillia Fire Department attending on several occasions to extinguish fires in the bush area.
“The city’s zoning bylaw prohibits the use of any tent for human habitation on any lands in the city except where such tent is located in a trailer camp or mobile home park,” Crawford explained. “The city’s clean and clear bylaw prohibits the storage of waste on a property, including household-related garbage.”
Crawford says the city has been working with the private property owner to bring the property into compliance with both bylaws. The OPP was present and on standby while the clean-up occurred, and to enforce the Trespass to Property Act as required, Crawford told OrilliaMatters.
Linda Goodall, executive director of The Lighthouse, Orillia's homeless shelter, says the people who once camped out on the private property won’t be able to move into the shelter on Queen Street as it's at capacity.
“I understand we are full with 50 adults and eight youth,” she said, noting those who were living in the homeless encampment will likely find another area in the city to set up their makeshift shelters. However, she conceded it will be “extremely difficult" for them to find a suitable location.
“Our outreach team can’t tell them where to go, because that’s not what we do,” she explained. “We support anybody that’s on the street to make sure that they are safe, well, and connected to the Lighthouse for all the resources that we have.”
Goodall says it’s important the people who lost their temporary homes are "well supported" by the community. She also recognizes there have been major causes for concern when it comes to the safety of the now-former encampment.
“I’m not saying that’s OK, because it’s not,” she said. “However, we need to be able to support, as best we can, as a community in a safe way. It’s all about safety and wellness.”
It's not known how many people were calling the bush area home.
