Lawyer concerned about displacement of Soper Park encampment residents

There are no more residents at the encampment at Soper Park after the City of Cambridge asked them to leave by Wednesday.

Lawyer Ashley Schuitema of Waterloo Region Community Legal Services told CityNews three residents remained on Thursday morning when police arrived, but no fines were given because of “significant support” from outreach workers.

Schuitema estimates there were about 30 people living at the encampment, but added that others would say 50.

As of Friday afternoon, she knew of only three people who received access to shelters after leaving the encampment this week. One went to an emergency shelter system, while the other two joined the Erbs Road location.

The other residents have been left to figure out a solution themselves.

“There’s nowhere else for them to go,” said Schuitema. “I think it’s important for the public to understand that people aren’t being offered a space where they can actually go. They’re just being told to move on and then they’re having to find somewhere else they can tent.”

Schuitema attended Wednesday’s Regional Council meeting to share her concerns about the evictions, but hasn’t heard any communication since then from the City of Cambridge or the Region of Waterloo.

According to her, three of the former encampment residents didn’t bother setting up tents elsewhere because they didn’t want to be asked to take them down again.

“They decided they were just going to wander,” she said. “As far as I understand, those people are likely sleeping in allies or on park benches around Cambridge.”

Many people don’t qualify for a spot in shelters because they have pets or family members with them. Most shelters only accept single people.

Schuitema is hoping to set up talks with the City of Cambridge and Region of Waterloo to continue pushing for a solution.

“These evictions are just leading to constant displacement,” said Schuitema. “People are just moving to a different part of the city to tent and it’s not a solution. There’s significant harms with each eviction. We’re talking about risk of death.”

Schuitema told CityNews there are legal actions the former encampment residents could take against the Region or City, but it would be tricky.

“The real, significant issue that’s so hard for people is that people who are living in encampments are trying to survive,” she said. “They don’t have the capacity or the resources to seek out a lawyer or retain a lawyer to take that kind of action.”

She added that anyone looking to help people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge should voice the concerns to their municipal councilors.