Where are the women's shelters? (pt. 5)
Policing, encampments, and the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Like most recent municipal budget seasons, regional council discussed whether to approve the proposed police budget, as council looks for ways to reduce the expected property tax increase. The Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) proposed an increase of $24 million for the 2025 budget. The total proposed budget of $252.5 million is a 10.5% increase from last year’s budget. Regional Councillor Rob Deutschmann presented a motion to ask the WRPS to reduce their proposed increase by $4 million but that motion failed. As the police budget increases again this year, it’s worth examining how policing impacts those without housing, especially women and gender-diverse individuals.
The Project Willow report which was created to highlight how hidden homelessness is especially prevalent for women and gender-diverse individuals, stated that 73 per cent of survey respondents avoided using co-ed emergency shelter services because of safety concerns. 92 per cent of participants experienced violence weekly. The report also noted that the majority of respondents felt comfortable talking to staff at social services (e.g., St John’s Kitchen, Sanguen, ACCKWA, SOS, YW Shelter, Cambridge Self Help Food Bank, Ray of Hope, etc.) about their safety concerns or experiences with violence. However, only 2 per cent of respondents felt comfortable disclosing such information to police officers. 67 per cent of Project Willow participants shared that they had experienced violence which they did not disclose to the police.
“The majority of participants had complicated feelings regarding law enforcement. These feelings stemmed from direct experiences with the police as well as their fear of more violence after police involvement. It all amounted to a severe lack of trust in the law enforcement process,” the Project Willow report stated.
A common fear about calling the police was the threat of violence escalating. As well, when reaching out to the police for assistance, many respondents said they were blamed by police, instead of helped.
Project Willow participants believe that a judgement-free option is needed that doesn’t risk family or relationship breakdowns. 79 per cent of participants supported trauma and mental health supports being available in women’s emergency shelter spaces.
“Restorative justice was seen by some as a therapeutic opportunity for folks to work through their trauma, a way to stop the hurt from happening over and over, a way to recognize the help both parties needed and a way to avoid situations getting worse with time,” the Project Willow report stated.
Women and gender-diverse individuals who do not feel safe in a co-ed shelter environment, may choose to camp outdoors instead. However, at the request of 13 Ontario mayors, the premier recently announced that he will support cities in dismantling encampments, relying on the notwithstanding clause, if necessary.
“Should the courts interfere with our shared goal of effectively addressing and clearing out encampments using these enhanced tools, with your support, our government is fully prepared to use the notwithstanding clause,” said Premier Ford.
A 2023 Ontario Superior Court decision by Justice Valente ruled that if a municipality does not have sufficient shelter spaces to meet current needs, dismantling encampments on public property violates Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Instead of relying on police to evict residents from encampments, policy decisions such as the Region of Waterloo’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (PECH) may provide a more compassionate way forward. Unlike some previous policy decisions, the PECH relies heavily on input from the community, especially those who have experienced homelessness and those who work in shelter and housing services.
“The Plan to End Chronic Homelessness shifted power, recognizing community and earned knowledge. We were able to finally start asking not if, but how is women’s homelessness different,” said Jen Gordon, community advocate and researcher for Project Willow.
The PECH recommends 30 actions to end chronic homelessness by 2030 and is guided by seven strategic focus areas:
Create Policy and System Accountability
Centre Community Voices
Build System Bridges
Advance Equitable Housing
Focus on Preventing Homelessness
Change the Narrative on Housing and Homelessness
Advocate and Collaborate for Broader Change
While the closing of the women’s shelter at 84 Frederick has left a gap in services, it may provide an opportunity to improve the system overall. In fact, the past challenges in providing supports for women and gender-diverse individuals experiencing homelessness may have been, in part, due to a focus on a specific location instead of the system as a whole.
“If we look at the historical patterns that got us here, 60ish beds in one location. Is that meeting the needs we have? And if not, how do we not end up here again or repeat the same patterns,” Gordon asked.
The YW Kitchener-Waterloo (YWKW), who owned and operated the 84 Frederick St. shelter believe that the old model needs to be improved.
“We envision a new model of providing shelter, involving two or three smaller sites, each with 20 to 30 beds and with options for clients working toward sobriety and others still active in their addictions. The model will include an interdisciplinary team bringing supports to clients at each of the shelters,” Karen Coviello, President of the board, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, wrote.
While Jen Gordon sees the PECH as an opportunity for transformative change, Regional Council is considering deferring some of that work in order to reduce the property tax increase for 2025. Gordon wants people to remember that their voice is important to the success of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.
“Citizens’ voices matter in this too. How do we build something more robust from this canvas that is momentarily blank?” Gordon said.
This is the fifth and final post in a series. Click to read part one, part two (Advocacy), part three (Project Willow), and part four (Cambridge).
A slightly edited version of this piece appeared in The Community Edition’s January issue.
Since this is the last post prior to the provincial election, I want to urge everyone to get out and vote on February 27th. If you need any information on how or where to vote, click here.
Thanks for covering this important issue!