With the warmer weather arriving and the closure of its local warming centre, the Town of Greater Napanee is anticipating an increase in visible unhoused encampments in public spaces over the coming months.
The Morningstar Mission Warming Center is closing for the season on April 30.
Town officials are working with community partners to outline how they intend to educate and enforce an Encampment Protocol, which outlines sensitive areas where encampments are not permitted.
Unhoused individuals are legally permitted to shelter themselves on public lands when there is insufficient alternative shelter available.
There are no emergency shelter facilities for unhoused residents within the County of Lennox and Addington.
As per the Town’s Protocol, encampments are prohibited within defined sensitive use areas, which includes playgrounds, sports fields, schools, and other facilities primarily intended for use by children and seniors as well as areas within a specified distance from those amenities.
Encampment sites must also be contained to a maximum size and must adhere to other safety requirements including following any fire bans that may be in place.
The goal of the Town’s Protocol is to create predictability for all residents in areas where encampments will and will not be permitted to remain in place.
While current case law has not established a charter right for encampments on private property, the Town can enforce by-laws for non-compliance on private property encampments when there are reports of safety hazards or negative off-site impacts to the community.
If residents have questions or concerns about existing encampments, they are encouraged to submit an E11 ticket through the Town’s online reporting form.
An officer will attend the site to verify whether it is compliant with the requirements of the Town’s Protocol and to monitor for safety risks
