Orillia Mayor Don McIssac says he has heard from people who wanted him to declare a state of emergency in the city around homeless encampments, similar to what Mayor Alex Nuttall did in Barrie last month.
"Obviously, we've been monitoring Barrie's process and what's happened there. We have issues in Orillia that are similar, but maybe not as deep and widespread as Barrie's, but there not a lot of information out there. We thought education was the right thing."
At a special meeting of city council on Monday, councillors got an education from the County of Simcoe's general manger of social and community services and the county's director of housing and homelessness services.
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The County of Simcoe oversees social housing in the region, including shelters, and has repeatedly emphasized its 10-point plan
"We did not start at the conclusion that we need to declare an emergency. We didn't know. We know we needed more tools and we need more help, so that was the premise of the discussion."
McIssac says one thing he took away from the meeting was the city did not need to declare a state of emergency to get resources from the county.
"Indeed, it was unclear the advantage of declaring a state of emergency. The provinces provides help but they aren't providing any financial resources at this point, so we couldn't see an advantage of declaring a state of emergency versus just asking the county to help."
The mayor says the city's focus is certainly to help the most vulnerable and it's a priority that council has set.
"There's a small minority of criminal elements that prey on our most vulnerable and commit crimes in the community. We're going to deal with that as well."
McIssac echoes the Barrie mayor about helping those who want it.
"We want to help people who need and want that help. If they don't want the help, then Orillia is really not their place. I think that message came across fairly clear."
Moving people who are living in a homeless encampment from private or public property doesn't change the fact they are still homeless, says McIssac.
He says the county does provide vouchers and other resources, and if they have a place to stay, they then may need help with mental health issues, opioid issues or alcohol issues.
"There is that trauma they still need to deal with, so the county is able to help with that as well."
Things are being done, according to the mayor, such as supportive housing for youth, rapid rehousing to people who maybe experiencing homelessness for the first time and to keep them from being chronically homelessness. McIssac thinks it's worked fairly well, and adds there are other options the county is looking at it to get more permanent places for people to stay.
McIssac estimates there are about 150 people in Orillia who are living in about five or six encampments, though he says the numbers peak in the summer. There are no encampments in city parks that the mayor is aware of, but they do remove those on other city property.
The process is different from private property, as the city can't just go in and uproot individuals living there. The landowner has to act, and seek assistance from police who will issue trespass notices, and then the city or landlord will go in and clear off the property once the people have left.
Moving forward, McIssac says they have developed daily meetings with the bylaw department, the fire chief, and the county to discuss encampment issues.
"Obviously we are looking to reduce or resolve the problem whatever way we can. There's no silver bullet. If there was, it would have already been fired."
