Regina city council declines to declare a 'houselessness crisis'
Council voted down a motion meant to deal with the fallout of clearing homeless encampment at city hall
Wednesday's city council meeting ended with shouting and threats to clear the public gallery amid a heated debate on how to address homelessness in Regina.
One person was removed and a dozen more left while loudly condemning council once it became clear a majority of the city government would vote to not declare a "houselessness crisis" in Regina
"The blood is on your hands, Sandra," one person shouted to Mayor Sandra Masters as they walked out.
The declaration would have only been a symbolic gesture — but it was voted down in a vote of 2 to 6.
Ward 1 Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk and Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak were the only affirmative votes.
"Voting against the motion does not demonstrate that we believe this is a crisis," said Zachidniak, urging councillors to find common ground.
In comments made after the meeting, Masters disagreed.
"The motion itself, if I were to summarize councillors' comments, was performative and we have a plan to end homelessness," said Masters, who voted against the motion.
The debate once again highlighted the rift on council between the councillors who say they are doing a great deal to tackle homelessness — even if some of it remains confidential and out of the immediate eye of the public — and those councillors who say there needs to be a comprehensive plan that shows the city is responding to concerns they are not doing enough to address the issue.
"It's not the case that nothing is being done," said Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins.
Hawkins, Masters and Ward 4 Coun. Lori Bresciani repeatedly pointed to $7.15 million the City of Regina spends annually to address homelessness, on things like harm reduction, tax exemptions for organizations, an emergency homelessness city and a heating bus.
The motion that would've declared a "houselessness crisis" in the city was put forward by Stadnichuk, Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens, Ward 6 Coun. Dan LeBlanc and Zachidniak.
But an amendment put forward by Hawkins effectively removed the motion's teeth, as it referred all financial proposal — including a long-term commitment from the city to address homelessness as well as the creation of a plan to ensure all residents have temporary shelter or warming space — to the city's budget deliberation process.
Every other part of the motion was then voted down by the majority of council, including a call for the city to urge the provincial and federal governments to contribute emergency funding to address the crisis of homelessness, the creation of safety guidelines for encampments and a rule that encampments only be dismantled if there is a documented pattern of unwillingness from camp organizers to address multiple safety concerns.
Regina Fire and Protective Services Chief Layne Jackson said he has a provincial duty to enforce the Fire Safety Act and that limiting their ability to clear camps — by allowing organizers to address safety concerns, for example — could create a conflict with that duty.
His concerns were supported by the city's legal department.
Hawkins said that intergovernmental discussions on dealing with homelessness are already ongoing.
"We will not further the cause of homelessness if we start hectoring the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada, ordering them to contribute urgently to this issue. They're already there with us," Hawkins said.
Speaking ahead of council's vote, Stadnichuk told CBC that her fellow councillors would recognize the need to have a plan, rather than just reacting.
"If it's a encampment somewhere or fires, we are reacting to it right now and I think we need to act proactively instead," Stadnichuk said.
Fallout and the future
Wednesday's debate was the part of the fallout of a decision to tear down a tent encampment located outside of Regina city hall in mid-July.
Portions of the lawn in front of Regina city hall remain fenced off more than a month after the encampment — which peaked at 83 tents.
Alejandra Cabrera volunteered at the city hall encampment and was one of the nine people that signed up as a delegate to speak to council.
Cabrera shared the story of Alexis Dustyhorn, a resident of the encampment.
Cabrera shared that Dustyhorn died shortly after the city encampment was taken down. She urged council to address the issue and deal with it differently than they have been previously.
"We want new ideas with low barriers," Carbrera said.
Alysia Johnson, the chair of Carmichael Outreach Inc., brought a new idea forward during the meeting.
She presented a proposal from Carmichael Outreach Inc., for the creation of a community hub.
The not-for-profit is suggesting that its building and coffee room — located at 1510 12th Avenue — operate as a low-to-no-barrier environment when other services are at maximum capacity in the neighbourhood.
Johnson says they would require funding from the City of Regina, the provincial government or the federal government in order to create the space and extend its hours to operate from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout the week.
She estimated it would require a commitment of $600,000 to operate on a year round bases with an estimated capacity of 60, which would work out to $27.39 per person every night.
Johnson stressed that their goal is not replace any of the other shelters or warming spaces that are operating already, rather just meet the needs of "an economically challenged neighbourhood" by prioritizing those who need a safe and accessible space.
She said that Carmichael would be willing to lease the space for $1 per month to an organization able to operate the proposed facility.
"The more pressing concern is not "who" runs it, rather - is the space being properly utilized at night?" concludes the document presented to council.
It's not clear where Wednesday's vote leaves that proposal.
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With files from Laura Sciarpelletti