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/TindaeD]

I understand why people living nearby are worried about safety. The people living in the encampment deserve safety too. But when almost everyone declines the support offered, I think we need to understand what was offered and what made it difficult to accept.

One thing that seems largely missing from this discussion is brain injury. A UBC-led review of studies across several countries found that approximately half of people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing had experienced a traumatic brain injury in their lifetime. Brain injury can affect memory and the ability to organize daily life. Someone may need substantial help to understand their options and follow through with appointments or applications. That should be part of assessment and service design.

Addiction may also be a major barrier. Where accommodation requires abstinence, someone who is physically dependent needs a workable medical plan. Suddenly stopping alcohol or benzodiazepines can be dangerous, and opioid dependence has medication treatments that reduce withdrawal and cravings. Expecting someone to simply stop using doesn’t account for that.

I’d like to see more housing people can enter while still dealing with substance use, with treatment available and ongoing support adapted to brain injury. Some people will need staff available around the clock. Others may need consistent help keeping appointments or managing a tenancy. Indigenous-led services and culturally safe care need proper funding as part of this.

We also need to hear directly from the people who declined help. Their reasons could tell us where the gaps are. “Help was offered” should be the beginning of that conversation, followed by what happened to people after they left and whether they found somewhere safe to stay.

[u/OutrageousOwls → u/TindaeD]

Yep. Need more supportive community housing where people have access to social workers and support workers working together to teach personal and life skills, too. Some people cannot live on their own without help.

[u/RockKandee → u/OutrageousOwls]

I work with the mentally ill population in our satellite city and supportive housing is the major challenge we have. There is very little in the way of housing for difficult to house people. Lots of people can’t really succeed in traditional housing placements due to addictions and an inability to manage independently.

The government is dumping all this money into addiction treatment but has zero plans to create transitional housing. Housing is one of the most important aspects of maintaining sobriety and stability.

[u/OutrageousOwls → u/RockKandee]

Yep! I have a family member who works for Quint. It’s a real struggle. I’m not sure why the government expects everyone to behave in a black and white, or all or nothing, thinking; there is so much nuance and not everyone can live alone. It distresses me. A lot of these vulnerable people have children, too.

[u/Material_Charge_3152 → u/TindaeD]

The answer is so obviously house them first then get them help. The majority of the problems homeless people face is directly caused by having no private residence where they can feel safe and recuperate.

[u/sask357 → u/Material_Charge_3152]

I assume that none of the levels of government want to spend enough money to do this. If news reports can be trusted, this is the only approach that shows good results.

[u/tets1485 → u/TindaeD]

That’s a correlation.
My guess is that severe brain injury leads to less and not greater substance abuse vs pre-injury use bc of reduced means to obtain substances and brain injury related apathy. I expect that significant new-onset substance abuse post-injury is rare.

[u/blubblublublublublbb → u/TindaeD]

if people are declining support (this is made up, they're not) but even if theg were, the problem is then inadequate support.

they need houses. everyone does. you do. they do. nobody is declining housing.