A new report has put a number on what some city councillors and advocates describe as a growing form of homelessness in Winnipeg — people sleeping in back lanes, on sidewalks and other outdoor spaces other than encampments.
The City of Winnipeg says between 150 and 200 people were “rough sleeping” as of the end of July, according to the report, which is set to be discussed at the community services committee meeting Friday.
The estimate comes from Main Street Project, the city’s contracted outreach services provider.
The organization identified 245 people staging in 72 known encampments at the end of July, with up to 70 more people staying in encampments but who did not meet directly with outreach workers.
Main Street Project “also noted a continued increase in the number of individuals rough sleeping across the city. This includes people sleeping in locations such as back lanes, sidewalks, and other outdoor spaces that are not considered encampments,” community development manager Chris Brens wrote in the report.
The city adopted its encampment enforcement protocol last November, restricting camping within certain distances of some locations, such as schools, roads, bridges and daycares. The city says it has remediated 141 encampment sites since adopting the policy.
Some advocates and councillors say the restrictions are contributing to more people sleeping outside encampments.