City crews back at Civic Centre Park to clean-up encampment

When asked about why residents at the camp don’t use outreach services that are available, the general consensus from people at the encampment was because they don’t feel safe there.

A woman who spoke to Lethbridge News Now says she won’t go to the shelter anymore because of the staff there.

“The male staff come, walk in, knock on doors. We have no locks [on the bathroom doors] so the door comes flying open,” the woman said. “Plus, the male [staff] pat us down too when we arrive into the shelter.”

She also commented that there are pest problems at the shelter such as lice infestations.

Residents of the encampment acknowledge the drug use that takes place at Civic Centre Park, but they also do what they can to look out for each other.

“We actually watch after people,” the woman explains. “We make sure that there’s Narcan on hand at all times. Yesterday, there was one girl [that] went down three times for drinking and doing drugs. She got back up back every single time.”

The city has performed multiple of what they call “compassionate clean-ups” over the last number of weeks, but individuals simply come back once crews are gone and set back up.

Lethbridge City Council voted at the end of July to allocate $230,000 towards helping clean-up efforts of the encampment and most recently agreed upon trying to find a more permanent space for individuals to be able to set up their tents and have access to necessary services.

by Drew Stremick

City crews back at Civic Centre Park to clean-up encampment

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