Garbage, safety among complaints to city about homeless encampments, documents show

When police swept into parks and green spaces in August to remove tents and shelters for homeless people, the municipality said the officers' actions stemmed in part from the fact that there had been serious complaints about the encampments.

"This is about health and safety, and it's gotten to the point now where there are a lot of issues ... activities that have been happening around some of these encampments," Mayor Mike Savage said in the aftermath of the encampment removals on Aug. 18, which saw protesters pepper-sprayed and 24 people arrested.

"Citizens have felt threatened and have been put in positions that they shouldn't have to be."

Through a freedom of information request, CBC News has received details about all contacts with 311 about homeless people, encampments, tents and crisis shelters between Aug. 1, 2020, and Aug. 20, 2021. 

The 228 calls detail a variety of concerns, including about sanitation, safety, noise, and residents' feelings about the encampments. The calls do not include complaints made to police, which could be of a more serious nature. CBC News has also requested those complaints, but they have not yet been released.

Litter and sanitation were among the most frequent subjects of calls to 311.

Some callers complained about people urinating and defecating in parks and green spaces and leaving dog feces on the ground.