Event raising awareness about homelessness will see overnight campers in Victoria Park despite ban: Organizers

With so much focus over the last year on issues surrounding a surge in the number of people experiencing homelessness across the region and the province, a local group is asking how many of us really know what it’s like to sleep rough.

With that question in mind, an event is set to be held Friday in Victoria Park though there are concerns it could lead to a clash over recent restrictions on overnight camping.

According to organizers, ‘The Unhoused Experience: 24hr Challenge‘ is set to see people camping in the park overnight, not as a test of toughness, but as an opportunity to learn.

“The more important goal here is to connect people who bring that experience [of homelessness] to people who have questions or want to learn more about those communities in our region,” said Jaime Stief, an advocate for housing security and one of the event organizers.

She said the event will start with a community meal followed by a series of speakers with lived experience with homelessness. Attendees will then have an option of camping in the park overnight, though she admits that’s where things could get sticky with the city.

“I would say they are, they’re letting us go ahead with the speakers and then we’re going to see what happens overnight,” said Stief. “We are proceeding with caution [and] we are taking any precautions we possibly can to make sure it’s safe and to [disperse] people if it becomes to big.”

However, according to the City of Kitchener, it’s not the potential size of the event that’s the issue.

In a statement, the city said it is aware of the event, adding community members, speakers and residents offering donations are all welcome to attend.

It does go on to say though, “community members, speakers, and residents planning to attend should [also] be aware that the City’s Parks By-law does not permit tents or other structures to be set up in a park,” while also noting all park events must also end by 11 p.m.

“City staff have communicated this information to event organizers since mid-May to provide them with enough time to adjust their event plans to align with the City’s By-law and communicate those changes to those planning to attend the event,” the statement continues. “The City will be enforcing its Parks By-law.”

A spokesperson with the City of Kitchener said in a statement to CityNews Kitchener that no tickets were issued during the event.

“By-law staff were on hand over the weekend to remind event participants not to erect tents. It was a small gathering and participants complied with the Parks By-law. No tickets were issued.”