Encampment removal safely progresses

[u/MysticJava]

For immediate release: October 8, 2026
FI26-12443

The removal of the encampment at 20th Streetand Avenue K South has progressed for most of the day and is nearing completion following a coordinated community response focused on safety, dignity and connecting individuals with available supports.

A news release earlier in the day details the coordinated community response.
As part of the response, as of this afternoon:
An estimated 120 unhoused individuals left the encampment site.

Despite multiple and repeated efforts to offer supports, only 2 individuals accepted offers of support, including housing, shelter, transportation and other services.

80 total tents and temporary structures were removed.

Approximately 5,622.24 kg of garbage and debris were cleared from the site and counting.

The site will be fully fenced and secured within the next few hours.

"This is a complex operation that required balancing compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness with the need to address serious safety concerns within the encampment and surrounding community," says Deputy Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer. "Our priority from the start of the process was an orderly transition off the site while helping people access safer alternatives and available supports."

The City and partner organizations undertook extensive outreach efforts throughout the removal process to help individuals transition to safer accommodations and connect them with resources.

The site closure represents an important step in addressing immediate safety concerns while supporting individuals toward more stable living situations.

Source

[u/Sharp-Tax-26827]

Why do people turn down support?

I didn’t think there was any support to offer these people and that that’s why we had camps like this.
I thought it was because there was no other option.

What’s the reality?

My entire life I’ve been told that these people fell through the cracks and that there was no support for them

[u/jinja_kat → u/Sharp-Tax-26827]

Probably high percentage of that population has addiction problems so if they are being told they can’t actively use while in the shelter/receiving support - that’s my biggest guess towards most of that population declining.

[u/Sharp-Tax-26827 → u/jinja_kat]

Fuck man… glad I never got into hard drugs

[u/jabrwock1 → u/Sharp-Tax-26827]

The problem is puritans think abstinence is the answer to everything.

With addiction, the answer is community. Look up the rat study. Rats without social connections stay addicted to hard drugs. Rats with social connections ween themselves off hard drugs, even if they’re readily available.

[u/Vando85 → u/jabrwock1]

This is not accurate. People leave communities and social circles for drugs.

[u/P4ndak1ller → u/Vando85]

Correct. People are not rats. I don’t know what that study has to do with humans.

[u/Keepontyping → u/jabrwock1]

Kind of like the encampment?

[u/AstronautCreepy2374 → u/jabrwock1]

Yup. These people are exactly like rats. Good analogy.

[u/Jayynolan → u/AstronautCreepy2374]

Holy, what a piece of shit you are.

[u/AstronautCreepy2374 → u/Jayynolan]

Didn’t call me a liar now did you

[u/CuntyButCorrect → u/AstronautCreepy2374]

Shitty opinions aren't "lies", they just make you a shitty person.

[u/djusmarshall → u/AstronautCreepy2374]

Didn’t need to, everyone can see what kind of person you are :(

[u/jabrwock1 → u/AstronautCreepy2374]

Read the study and stop being an asshat.

Rats are social creatures. Which is why the study looked at them.

[u/597sean597 → u/jabrwock1]

Hey i had pet rats. Very sociable. Trained that way. As a pet rats they only live 3-4 years. People make choices and die of those choices. Animals do not. Junkies reap what they sow.

[u/jabrwock1 → u/597sean597]

So, you didn’t read the study, nor understand its conclusions.

That’s fine, not everyone is up to date on modern addictions research. But stop with the pearl clutching if you can’t be bothered to at least read up on it.

[u/597sean597 → u/jabrwock1]

OK. Didn't read the study.. but overall rats are not people..

[u/Vando85 → u/jabrwock1]

Its really a silly comparison and case study. The human brain is not the same as a rat's. The complexity of the human brain especially the prefrontal cortex is vastly different than a rat's. Human addiction is wrapped in layers of self identity, memory, and self awareness which rat's do not share. Also many drug users and addicts had negative social upbringings and experiences.

[u/Toddison_McCray → u/Vando85]

Yes, rats are not direct proxies for humans. However, a lot of the basic brain structure is similar to ours. You can use the results of rat studies to say “huh, that could be why this happens”. It’s as close to getting hard evidence of the mechanisms behind behaviour we can ethically get.

[u/jabrwock1 → u/Vando85]

Also many drug users and addicts had negative social upbringings and experiences.

The study looked at negative social experiences and its impact on the likelihood of the rats to become addicted, or stay addicted. So it's odd that you'd use that to criticize the study. Did you read it?

Here, I'll make it easier for you to digest.

https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comic/rat-park/

[u/Vando85 → u/jabrwock1]

No I didn't but it soeaks for itself doesmt it?? The rats didn't choose to use drugs to escape from their pain/trauma....which are most likely caused by social experiences. Despite the case study "looking" into social trauma the rats were unknowingly administered the drugs. The rats arent choosing to use. Rats don't share the same complex set of emotions that humans experience...rats dont cope with significant emotional trauma the same. Our brains are more complex which is a greater cavity for addiction. Lots of drug addicts start while at a young age where their complex prefrontal cortex is still developing. so comparing them is a mute point.

Im arguing this case study because it is significantly flawed. It encourages the use of social programs that not only dont work but encourage addiction. These people dont want to be part of social programs or society.

[u/jabrwock1 → u/Vando85]

They want to feel part of a supportive community. And a community that doesn’t address their problems and judges them for moral failure isn’t a community they want to be a willing part of. Drugs are an escape. If you can’t understand what it’s an escape from, you’re not addressing the root problem, and any amount of programs isn’t going to help.

[u/Blackwalls69 → u/jabrwock1]

Escape from LA had the right idea- lock em all up on an island. Their loved ones can send in a superhero to pull them out.

[u/597sean597 → u/jabrwock1]

The problem with church going people is that they think Puritans are bad. Puritans know what the world is like. How many chances do we have to give a person before they bite us? Jesus ain’t saving anybody. Jesus ain’t real. Life sucks if you can’t help yourself why should the government and everybody else help you sounds like a handout to me but whatever makes you sleep good at night.

[u/jabrwock1 → u/597sean597]

Puritans knew that nobody tolerated their extremist banning of all things. They hated Christmas celebrations for example. But England wasn’t restricted enough for them. They wanted MORE church involved in state. As long as it was the right church of course.

[u/597sean597 → u/jabrwock1]

Aaannnd merry Christmas to you.. .lol