Hamilton police return to north end encampment after trespass notices issued

Police were back to the site of an encampment in Hamilton’s north end Tuesday as the people living there say they don’t want to move again.

“I understand yes, you want to make Hamilton pretty but you’re doing it in the wrong way,” says Ishmael Balfour who lives at the encampment.

This all unfolded at the greenspace near Simcoe and Wellington streets.

The encampment support network says an encampment which began at Beasley park, moved to Jackie Washington park and now the group is at this location.

They say on Aug. 27, by-law officers and police issued trespass notices and when some in the group said they weren’t moving, by-law officers and police told them they would return after the long weekend, leading to Tuesday.

“They give you the trespass and usually you expect the clean up crew to clean up a bit and they will try and evict you off the land because it’s already clean and they don’t have to do a lot of work,” Balfour says.

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CHCH News reached out to Hamilton police who were at the encampment today. They say their engagement is focused on person-centered support.

“Our presence at the encampment is not enforcement-driven, but rather rooted in support, connection, and dignity. We are committed to working alongside community agencies to provide long-term solutions for those facing housing insecurity,” police said in a statement.

No solutions have been offered to members of this encampment, according to John Phillips who is living there. He’s calling on the provincial and federal governments to step in.

“We want adequate housing and access to housing that we can afford. If they can’t do that then stop displacing us,” Phillips says.

CHCH News reached out to the City of Hamilton but did not receive a response before this story was broadcast.

In the meantime, those living in the encampment say they are not moving again if city by-law officers return.

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