The City of Trail is expected to remove an encampment along the Columbia River shoreline near Riverside Avenue.
It follows a motion introduced last week by city councillor Nick Cashol, who prefaced his remarks by acknowledging discussions around homeless encampments have become “very controversial and politicially divisive.” But he said bringing the motion forward during an election year was “purely a coincidence.”
The motion calls for the city to apply its bylaws “while ensuring compliance with legal obligations and a human rights-based approach” and asks its staff to work with community and social service agencies to offer the occupant shelter and supports, including temporary housing options.
It ultimately tasks staff with helping remove the encampment in a “lawful, compassionate” way.
Cashol said he brought the motion forward in response to ongoing concerns raised by residents about an “entrenched encampment” that has been in place for two and a half years, and is less than 50 metres from homes, and less than 100 meters from the La Nina shelter.
Last fall, Cashol asked for clarification over who has jurisdication of encampments on public land. A staff report in January said encampments within a municipality’s boundaries are the municipality’s responsibility. Two encampments were mentioned in the report, one of which was removed by the city’s bylaw team. The other is the subject of Cashol’s motion.
Cashol said the city hasn’t taken action until now because the camp is in a spot not heavily used by the public, but he thinks it’s time to step in.
“While I recognize the importance of a compassionate and human rights-based approach, I also believe we must acknowledge the very real impact this situation is having on nearby residents, including concerns about safety, stress, and the loss of peaceful enjoyment of their homes,” he said. “As a city, we also have a responsibility to be good stewards of our Crown land, especially the land along the beautiful Columbia River.”
He pointed to issues with other encampments, such one in the Pend d’Oreille, where three people died this spring in two separate RV fires. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary is asking the province to remove that camp.
Cashol said his motion isn’t meant to be heavy-handed but asks staff to take a “balanched approach, one that enforces bylaws, works collaboratively with support agencies and ensures that appropriate shelter options are offered.”
Council adopted the motion with additions presented by councillor Bev Benson. She asked that staff assess the acutal condition of the encampment, report on the availability of space in the shelter, and “outline how provincial guidance affects the city’s legal authority and obligations in responding to these encampments.”
Some of the encampments along the river aren’t makeshift shelters but include stonework and excavation into the bank, Benson said.
“In fact, I would say some of them look more like what we would call an unsightly present premises or an unauthorized construction situation,” she said.
Benson said it might not be a safe assumption that the person displaced from the encampment would be able to move to the local shelter, as they have been told by BC Housing that sometimes that isn’t an option if someone has been banned from the shelter or doesn’t feel comfortable there.
“I worry that this puts the city in a very difficult position when making a decision on what to do with these vulnerable people,” she said. “If shelter space is available and the individual is still not moving, then staff need to determine and explain what options exist.”
She also said they need to consider liabilities stemming from the riverbank being dug into.
Mayor Colleen Jones said the city is in a “difficult situation.”
“What’s more difficult and I find very upsetting is that these encampments are two and three years old and they are still encampments,” she said. “The fact that we can’t find housing for them and provide proper health and services that they need is very disappointing.”
