Saint John councillors say urgency is needed to deal with the homelessness crisis in the city.
Council adopted the city’s first three-year homelessness strategy during their meeting Monday night.
The goal is to make homelessness in the city “rare, brief and non-recurring” over the coming years.
One of the 28 action items involves identifying ‘zones’ in the city where encampments could be set up.
‘Green zones’ will be identified where unhoused sites will be located. Staff will also identify ‘yellow zones’ where tents are allowed at certain times of the year and ‘red zones’ where unsheltered structures will not be allowed.
A number of councillors who spoke during Monday’s meeting said identifying these zones needs to be a priority.
“Our community is desperate for us to take action here. It’s my opinion, to see the biggest impact for both those living in homelessness and the neighbourhoods, is to establish green zones. We have to go now,” said Coun. David Hickey.
Coun. Paula Radwan agreed, saying this is something the city needs to move on as quickly as possible.
Radwan has also proposed establishing a Community Safety Services Unit, where staff would oversee the management of encampments.
City staff said they have identified some “theoretical” zones but still need to consult with the community and get council approval.
Brent McGovern, the city’s chief administrative officer, said they also need to ensure there are washroom facilities on site and that supports are available for unhoused individuals.
Mayor Donna Reardon acknowledged that finding locations to put encampments is not going to be easy.
“Nobody has called me and said ‘I want a green zone next to my house,'” said Reardon.
“I get the urgent, I want it to happen fast, but I also want it to happen right and I want to make sure we do the right thing with it.”
Coun. Brent Harris said despite housing being a provincial responsibility, he feels the city needs to put money and resources into addressing it.
“Then let’s go do the work through your office, mayor, to tell the province to get off their butt and pay for what we just did for them, because that is their lane,” said Harris.
“I know it’s not in the Local Governance Act that we can do that but it’s also not there that we can’t do that.”
