It has been three days since the City of 麻豆精选 moved those living without a home on Leon Avenue to new locations in the city鈥檚 north end, but it doesn鈥檛 appear a lot of people are using the new sites.
On Tuesday, the city designated two parks to temporarily house people experiencing homelessness, but after the first night the number of people camping has dropped significantly raising questions about where they have gone.
鈥淥ur outreach case worker went by there this morning and she noticed about 11 tents, so that鈥檚 gone down considerably,鈥� said Sonja Menyes, director of volunteers at 麻豆精选鈥檚 Gospel Mission.
She said they aren鈥檛 sure where people are staying, but they have noticed some people sleeping rough in doorways and different alleys throughout the downtown core. They also haven鈥檛 notice a drop in the number of people using their services, which suggests people are still around.
Tom Wilson with the City of 麻豆精选 said there is some shelter space available at the Gospel Mission and Cornerstone, which could account for why fewer people are setting up their tents at the temporary overnight sites.
鈥淚 know outreach workers with the Gospel Mission and Interior Health are looking for these folks to make sure they鈥檙e safe and warm, and that鈥檚 continuing every night as well,鈥� said Wilson, acknowledging that some people are sheltering in doorways around the city.
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Catherine Miller, who is experiencing homelessness, said she used to have a tent on Leon Avenue, but has since found a bed at the Gospel Mission. She said it has been difficult for those who weren鈥檛 lucky enough to find space at an indoor shelter, especially after the move from Leon Avenue.
鈥淪ometimes some of them just sit down on the sidewalk because they鈥檙e tired,and someone from bylaw or someone else would come and tell them to move. So, you鈥檙e all over the town every half hour. How can you get better? You can鈥檛 get healthy because you have to move, move, move,鈥� Miller said.
鈥淏ut where are you supposed to go?鈥�
Another resident experiencing homelessness said the situation has become more difficult since the move.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so far away from resources. It鈥檚 a long walk from Recreation Avenue to the Mission. We have to pack everything up and put it all in a C can, then take it out and set up at night again,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e can only take our stuff out at 7 p.m. but the Mission closes at 6 p.m., so we can鈥檛 even do our laundry during the day.鈥�
鈥淧eople think we don鈥檛 try. I used to think the same but now that I am homeless, I understand how hard it is. It鈥檚 not easy moving somewhere else trying to start over again.鈥�
READ MORE: Fundraisers clash over 麻豆精选 homelessness issue
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