Hamilton’s approach to end city hall encampment has no ‘neat and tidy timeframe’

City of Hamilton staff hope to avoid a teardown near MacNab and Jackson streets but say urgency to resolve the issue is there amid recent 'health and safety' concerns.

Hamilton’s municipal law and licensing director says the city continues to engage residents occupying a plot of city hall property with a “housing first approach” to end the encampment.

Monica Ciriello told Global News bylaw and police officers taking down tents is something the city hopes to avoid but said the urgency to resolve the issue is there amid “a recent rash of fires” requiring some 20-plus visits from firefighters.

“There are health and safety concerns for the community, for members that are residing in the encampment and for city staff,” she said.

“These are concerns that we take very seriously and want we want to ensure that we’re addressing.”

When asked, Ciriello did not acknowledge the existence of a specific teardown date for those who are non-compliant, only saying housing staff, a social navigator and Hamilton police have been attending the site four to five times a week.

“I do know that we do have some shelter capacity available for individuals that would like to take the city up on that offer,” she said.

Council touched on the circumstance again Wednesday morning, hearing from the city manager that the housing first approach doesn’t have a “neat and tidy timeframe.”

“They’re working with individuals that all have very unique needs, different circumstances, etc., and so they look at how to best engage,” Janette Smith said.