191105 Homelessness Mayors Task The Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg
Homelessness in Tillsonburg
Meeting Notes
November 5, 2019
2:30 p.m.
Suite 203, Corporate Office
Attending: Ron Shaw, Andrea Brown, Nancy Sheils, Donna Acre, Lisa Lanthier, Geno Vanhaelewyn, Anthony Hymers, Jennifer Ormsby, Kathleen Musselman, Cameron Cyr, Rick Cox, Margaret Puhr
Current Situation:
• The community is experiencing variety of issues with homeless people – staff
encountering persons living in different locations throughout town; staff are
affected during their daily duties and public is demanding to know why something isn’t done.
• The Mayor has expressed an interest in this topic and will be advised of what is
discussed.
• The corporation is looking for ideas how to manage the municipal portion of responsibility from this group around the table. Recently the RCP director has been asked to provide shower facilities, to clear the pavilion of people living there
and to build a homeless shelter to name a few, by the residents.
• The By-law department has been asked to intervene on behalf of businesses and public but there is no By-law addressing homelessness or drug use. The department has seen an escalation over the last 12 months from almost no calls
to frequent requests for assistance from residents.
• OPP has been asked to remove persons from some locations.
• Residents are delivering clothing and food on daily basis to the group in the
Memorial Park pavilion.
• Salvation Army receives funds from the County to put people who either have a job or are new to town in a motel or other housing for a short time; otherwise they are asked to transport people to Woodstock shelter. Most people won’t go to
Woodstock as they have personal ties to Tillsonburg. Those at the motel
currently are both drug users and use all their money to buy drugs. The woman in wheelchair refuses any help because her son might harm himself if she leaves him. Salvation Army had a survey done for building a shelter – it is not feasible financially as a 10 room shelter costs around $700,000.00 to build; also there
aren’t enough homeless in town to make use of one.
• OPP has found that not everyone wants to go to a shelter. The problems are tied to mental health and addictions which then lead to crime. Police can’t solve the problem. People moved to Woodstock become problem for that community which
is not a solution. There needs to be a county-wide approach to deal with root
causes and create social support. Oxford County is great at finding solutions and has the resources. Tri-county approach isn’t necessary as there isn’t currently migration from surrounding areas to the county.
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Date: November 5, 2019
• The low income housing on Lisgar Ave in Tillsonburg recently had to evict a number of people who were creating an unsafe living conditions for others, overcrowding due to mental health and drug use. Historically they would have
been sent to larger centres, but these are full. Some of these people are almost
impossible to house, despite attempts by workers, because of their problems. The issue isn’t funds, it is behavioural problems: not following rules, paranoia, unable to handle close quarters with others are some of the reasons why shelters and other options don’t work for some people.
• Additionally, people are currently being released from police custody to no fixed address, which makes it difficult for probation officers to follow up with them.
• In Tillsonburg the homeless population does not seem to be transient but made
up of mostly local residents. Homelessness is a symptom, drug use and mental
health are the problem.
• Community centre is being used for warmth, hydro etc., which creates problems for users and staff. The showers could be provided on a token-use basis at the
community centre, however there could be bedbugs, health issues and possible
drug use.
• The main concern for the homeless is food and survival, not housing.
• Salvation Army finds that the municipality is not engaged and not addressing the
huge mental health and drug problem in Tillsonburg. By focusing on bringing retirees to town, the marginalized have been forgotten. There should be a person within the corporation engaged in finding solutions and providing education.
• The Town turned down proposed affordable housing which would have been an
important positive move.
• Homeless people know how to access the resources they want to access. Those who don’t want to be helped won’t cooperate.
• Oxford has low rates of high school graduates which adds to the problem. Supportive housing is a better tool than a shelter, but an in-dwell program is not available in Tillsonburg.
• Parks and trails will not be maintained between November 1st and May 1st, as
usual. Current Solutions:
• CMHA has information on the opioid crisis and safe handling of sharps – links attached.
• MHEART – Mental Health Engagement & Response Team – consisting of CMHA Oxford, OPP and Woodstock Police has done a sweep two weeks ago to look for
homeless and to offer support and form relationships with them. Because cyclically this issue becomes a police problem, the proactive approach is to try and create positive encounters and relationships. Support is offered on voluntary basis. Between September 2018 and August 2019 the MHEART made 988
contacts and gave 500 referrals. The program is run by a grant which runs out on
April 2020. The program is now extended to include drug and alcohol use in
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Date: November 5, 2019
addition to mental health. Tillsonburg does not have rehab resources and these programs also have long waiting lists.
• By January 2021 each community has to have a Community Safety Wellbeing
Plan. OPP is on board to work with Tillsonburg on developing the plan and
defining roles. The Clerk’s Department is the lead on this from the Town.
• The community centre staff would like training in how to deal with people coming
in and asking for showers and other things.
• Motel owners in Tillsonburg may be more willing to accommodate homeless
temporarily if given tax breaks.
Actions resulting from meeting:
• Parks will clear the picnic tables from the pavilion for winter as usual.
• Communication with public is not an effective approach.
• If a By-law is created to deal with the issue, OPP will have to apply it equally to all persons and situations, not just selected populations.
• Food and clothing – caution people to drop off food and other supplies at places
that are safe, such as Salvation Army.
• Mobile needle pickup program is available – link attached.
• Regular meetings, situation updates and education will be beneficial to everyone.
Links: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/your-health/harm-reduction/needle-exchange-program-nep https://www.operationsharing.ca/the-inn
https://www.informationoxford.ca/pdf/211_Files/Special_Publications/Media_Releases/.
Food_Clothing_Shelter_OxfordCnty.pdf