City of Hamilton continues to clear encampments

Following a court decision last week, Hamilton officials spent the weekend continuing to clear encampments throughout the city.

A court ruled Tuesday that the city can carry on its plan to remove encampments from city parks, after a local poverty group tried to stop the move.

During the pandemic, the city didn’t enforce the camping rules on city-owned property.

The City of Hamilton say they have broken up at least 35 encampments since Tuesday and will continue to enforce the bylaw on an individual basis first.

Advocacy groups say there is currently no space in shelters for unhoused people who have had their encampment taken down. The Hamilton encampment support network says homeless people should stay in tents until there are more affordable housing options.