Some people ask us, "Why do you want people living outside?"

It feels harsh to be advocating for people to live in tiny shelters and foam domes, but for many people this is their only option.

Let's talk about the impact of looming evictions on people's mind states....

To live in an encampment always open to the elements, to peoples scrutiny, the hatred of NIMBY's and city officials coming through to confiscate, police, and surveil is not easy.

To live with the threat of being kicked out of the community you've found is harder.

To be kicked out of an encampment for many will mean they have nowhere to go. They'll lose their things. They might go to ravines or more hidden places & set up again with less access to community support.They might sleep in parking garages, or wander around evading authorities.

We demanded a better winter plan from the city.
We wish there were better options for people.
We wish the city's indoor options were good for everyone.
They're not.

Congregate settings and shelter hotels aren't on offer to everyone anyway, because there aren't enough spaces.

ESN wants to fight for permanent housing options in the downtown core, for more spaces and better conditions at shelter hotels.

We take our direction from encampment residents. And right now, 2 threats they are dealing is the cold of winter & displacement by the city.

If the city can just stop making a precarious situation more precarious for people, if ppl can not be faced with the threat of evictions, then that's one less thing for people who are already dealing with a lot to deal with. Give people one break. One break.

We call for a moratorium on encampment evictions.
We've already been calling for by-laws that make encampments illegal to be repealed but city councillors won't even entertain that so far.

The city should stop invisibilizing homelessness. That's all encampment evictions do.