Resources
Encampments, Homelessness, and Harm Reduction - Resources
Last updated - August 3, 2023
This is a list of resources that will hopefully provide more information on encampments, homelessness, and harm reduction. They are organized by information or article type and then either by date or alphabetically. If you think there’s a resource that could be included here, please email ward3@hamilton.ca directly.
Resources on encampments and homelessness by date published:
May 16, 2023 - The Shift
Homeless Encampments - Municipal Engagement Guidance
April 10, 2023 - Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Involuntary Displacements - Making a Bad Situation WorseMarch 24, 2023 - Ombudsman Toronto
Investigation into the City's Clearing of Encampments in 2021January 27, 2023 - Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo v. Persons Unknown and to be Ascertained, 2023 ONSC 670December 15, 2022 - Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
OHRC statement on human rights and encampments and shelter closingsDecember 2022 - Social Science & Medicine - Qualitative Research in Health
“They have their security, we have our community”: Mutual support among people experiencing homelessness in encampments in Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemicSeptember 2022 - Wilfrid Laurier University
Homeless Encampments through a Human Rights LensJune 28, 2022 - Canadian Urban Institute
Summer Crisis - Are Encampments Coming Back to Stay?December 10, 2021 - National Housing Council
Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Housing: Literature ReviewNovember 2, 2021 - Canadian Journal of Public Health
Homeless encampments - connecting public health and human rightsSeptember 1, 2020 - Right to Home Municipal Working Group
Right to Home - A Municipal Call to ActionApril 30, 2020 - United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing
A National Protocol for Homeless Encampments in Canada
Other resources on encampments and homelessness:
Canadian Human Rights Commission
A focus on the housing and homelessness crisisCanadian Human Rights Commission
Homeless encampmentsCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
A Rights-Based Approach to Addressing HomelessnessUnited Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing
Homelessness and human rights
Resources on harm reduction:
Canadian Mental Health Association
Harm ReductionHarm Reduction International
What is Harm Reduction?Healthline
The Beginner’s Guide to Harm ReductionNational Harm Reduction Coalition
Principles of Harm Reduction
City of Hamilton Information Line
905-546-2489 or askCITY@hamilton.ca
The City’s Information Line is a great resource for waste collection, graffiti, litter, roads, sidewalks, water problems, trees, animals, property issues, winter maintenance, and more. Service desk employees at the City of Hamilton can connect you directly to the correct department.
For Public Health inquiries: publichealth@hamilton.ca
For HSR customer service inquiries: hsrserve@hamilton.ca
For recreation registration inquiries: recreation@hamilton.ca
To use the interactive zoning map, click here.
Climate Action
For background information on noise in our environment and regulation by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). click here.
Please report noise concerns to the MECP’s Hamilton District Office during the day: 905-521-7650 and to Spills Action Centre after hours and weekends:1-800-268-6060.
To report concerns to The City of Hamilton, please see the noise by-law here.
To learn about the process for submitting a by-law complaint, click here.
Municipal law enforcement officers are obligated to investigate all complaints to determine if there is a by-law violation.
If you opt to email your complaint, please “cc” kerry.leclair@hamilton.ca so that I can follow up and ensure that your concerns are being addressed.
Consider cc’ing Kerry.Leclair@Hamilton.ca, Climate Action and Community Coordinator for the Ward 3 Office, so that we can amplify your concerns.
Industrial Neighbours
Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association(HIEA) represents several member companies that are some of Ward 3’s biggest manufacturers, including steel producers.
For questions, complaints or concerns about one of the member companies:
Email: info@hiea.org or or call: 905-662-2131
You can also fill out their Environmental incident Reporting form.
Community Agencies
CityHousing Hamilton
905-523-8496
CityHousing@Hamilton.ca
Housing Help Centre
119 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z3
905-526-8100 905-528-1448
info@housinghelpcentre.ca
Service Hamilton
Education
Ward 3 Public Schoolboard Trustee
Maria Felix Miller
mfmiller@hwdsb.on.ca
289-775-0859
Ward 3 Catholic Schoolboard Trustee
Tyler Iorio
ioriot@hwcdsb.ca
905-520-6228