City of Toronto, police begin removing homeless from Trinity Bellwoods encampment
Trinity Bellwoods #TrinityBellwoods
The City of Toronto says it is enforcing trespass notices given 10 days ago to people experiencing homelessness who are living in an encampment at Trinity Bellwoods Park.
The notices were given on June 12 and were being enforced Tuesday morning.
City officials estimate there are 20 to 25 people at the encampment. The city said in a tweet they are being offered “safe, indoor space, with access to meals, showers and laundry, harm reduction, physical and mental health supports, and a housing worker.”
Confrontation between police, protesters at Toronto encampment site
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The city said the people at the encampment are being given time to pack two bags of belongings to take with them and all other items will be collected and stored for up to 30 days for pick-up later.
Officials said there are about 65 structures on site.
Toronto police said officers were deployed at 4:18 a.m. Tuesday to assist the city and ensure safety. There are approximately 50 to 60 protesters at Trinity Bellwoods, police said.
Read more: Toronto launches program to move homeless in encampments into hotel rooms
“The city remains focused on providing a human services response to encampments and peaceful, voluntary referrals for people sleeping outdoors to safer, inside space,” officials said.
However, the city said three residents from the camps have accepted the city’s offer to go to a shelter or hotel and have begun packing their belongings.
Many who live in the camps have said the shelters and hotels offered by the city aren’t a desirable option, in part due to the limit on belongings and the rules and curfews imposed.
The city has said that encampments aren’t safe.
— With files from The Canadian Press