The Winter Fire Season

Imagine an encampment going up on the riverbank by the Human Rights Museum. It is a possible that one is already there. Or more. Do you think the city, the province or Feds would accept that?  It was a lovely weekend but last year this time we had snow. And all along the river and elsewhere in Winnipeg we have encampments that seem more spread out and numerous this year. Reports are made regularly about tents, shelters and all sorts of items brought to various areas. None of those things can help people get warm unless there is fire.

It is getting colder despite these gorgeous days. And the reports of encampment fires grow and and a sense of desperation in the outdoor communities grows. It is the winter fire season. It happens every year and every year there are fatalities. The social agencies seem to fight about getting people moved to safer housing while others support keeping encampments as they are. There are now fires every other day.

There was a considerable amount of housing approved and building is taking place all over the city. It will take considerable effort here and all through North America to turn the ship around. Poverty, addictions, mental health and homelessness are all connected. The government is reducing immigration and work visas which may or may not help with housing. Even when immigration was lower, there were issues in all of the above noted concerns. 

It isn't just encampments on fire that are a concern. Any unoccupied property is vulnerable to fire. This can include construction sites. They likely are not warm enough in the coldest of winter and invariably a fire might be set. Arsons are still a very large problem whatever the reason they are set. Some properties are seen to by fire services a few times until there is no choice but to demolish.

Social agencies still don't seem to be on the same page about encampments. The goal has to be about finding places for people to live so they don't end up dead from cold or fire. Problems of sanitation, disease and safety in general are also hugely concerning. For most in the city is the fear of crime from those who live in encampments and don't receive social assistance since they don't have an address.

The Los Angeles Times has a report this week on the aggressive housing strategy for homeless that has made a huge difference in the South Bay area of Redondo Beach. The city, one of 56 in Los Angeles County, has made huge strides in functionally ending homelessness in the region. Using housing navigators and a judge, they have helped get those in need into tiny homes and single room occupancy with the supports that come with it. 

To be fair, Redondo Beach is 68,000 people and they had 105 homeless people in 2017. However, their strategy is sound. In Winnipeg tiny homes have been built with supports. However, there doesn't seem to be a court strategy which has been fairly effective in Los Angeles.  Having a case worker and identifying people by name has been extremely helpful in coming up with solutions.

California can get cool and wet in winter but they don't seem to have the fire problems Winnipeg does. The LA Times does mention that they do see a migration of people to where it is warmer and account for it in their record keeping. 

The housing strategy could change because the Conservatives are saying if they get in, they will end the housing accelerator program that the Liberal government has in place now. It is unclear how their GST cut for new housing and rentals will help make places available for low income. By contract, the accelerator fund has gotten shovels in the ground this year and has Conservative MPs lobbying for their areas to get it.

Some city councillors are realizing how dangerous the situation is until encampments are reduced. It will be a rough fire season as each day gets colder this fall.