‘We aren’t all drug sellers’: Winnipeg homeless encampment resident reacts to city’s new rules

Winnipeggers living in homeless encampments say the city’s new regulations governing where camps can be set up will have an effect on them – and they are concerned for the future.

The City of Winnipeg’s new protocol on regulating encampments on public property is now being enforced.

Encampments are now prohibited within 30 to 50 metres of several areas, such as playgrounds, pools, schools, daycares bridges, rail crossings, or transit shelters.

Airiana Boisvert, who calls an encampment near Osborne Village home, tells CityNews she doesn’t agree with the city’s new law.

“What do they expect us to do?” Boisvert said. “Unless they are gonna find us housing and put us up for winter, how could they kick us out of our homes?

“Having to move our encampments is gonna be rough. Trying to find a place that’s allowed, because you technically can’t camp anywhere, right.”

The City of Winnipeg says a bylaw officer, someone from WFPS or a mobile outreach worker will come by and give them a timeline for when they need to leave.

“City staff will begin visiting encampments today in priority areas to help people transition into shelters and safer spaces, while cleaning up these sites on public property,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham in a statement. “This is an important step toward promoting safety and order in our shared public spaces, and ensuring those spaces remain accessible for everyone.”

City councillor Evan Duncan says he’s hoping the law results in better long-term outcomes for Winnipeg’s homeless population.

“Less of these encampments, but you’re still going to see the permanent ones until we get in there and address them, and figure out a way to get these people into some sort of shelter that isn’t on a riverbank, or isn’t in a park, or isn’t in a bush somewhere,” he said.

But Boisvert feels encampments are unfairly stigmatized, saying most residents are just trying to survive.

“You know, we all aren’t bad. We aren’t all drug sellers, drug dealers,” she said.