Homeless encampments observed in Lethbridge in 2022. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Encampments down in Lethbridge parks, but crews finding more debris

Nov 27, 2024 | 9:24 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Members of Lethbridge’s Encampment Response Team (ERT) have provided city council with the latest on its efforts.

There was a 19 per cent increase in the number of reported encampments between August 27 and November 26 (221 encampments) compared to the same time last year (186).

However, as Community Social Development G.M. Andrew Malcolm notes, there was a “dramatic decrease” in encampments in city parks.

“There’s been a 65 per cent decrease in encampments in large public spaces like Galt Gardens and Civic Field,” says Malcolm. “One of the goals of the Encampment Strategy was to ensure parks and public spaces are enjoyable for everyone. The data in this report supports the progress our Encampment Response Team is seeing out in the community and that we continue to deliver an effective response in alignment with our strategic goals.”

The area around the Lethbridge Shelter and Resource Centre remains the biggest hot spot, accounting for 58.7 per cent of all confirmed encampments.

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The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is one of the ERT’s partner organizations and officers have been using drones to find encampments in hard-to-reach areas in the River Valley.

LPS Sgt. Ryan Darroch has this has proven to be a safe and efficient way of responding to encampments.

“Our [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] team has saved hours of time and resources by conducting Nav Canada-compliant flights to search the river valley for encampments,” says Darroch. “Our UAV pilot located 6 significantly entrenched encampments in the river valley, along with several other locations where significant debris had been left.”

One area that the ERT has struggled with this year is debris from encampments, which was up 179 per cent in the latest reporting period.

Members removed a total of 15,900 kg of debris compared to 5,700 kg in the same time in 2023.

The team’s outreach services department provides support for unhoused people who face challenges such as substance use, mental health and other barriers to housing.

They received 28 intakes during the reporting period. Members helped two people to exit homelessness and get into a more permanent housing solution while one who had been living in an encampment was transported to the Shelter for support.

The full Encampment Strategy update can be found on the City of Lethbridge website.

READ MORE: Homeless encampments at the centre of latest disagreement between Alberta and Ottawa

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