People are sleeping outside.
Until the City of Peterborough can ensure all residents have access to safe and adequate housing or, at the very least, shelter beds available to anyone who requires them, we, the undersigned, are urging Peterborough City Council to request the CAO enact Section 13 of the Parks and Facilities By-Law. In addition, we request the City of Peterborough open a park where those experiencing homelessness can set up tents legally, with access to water, toilet facilities, and supports. This would allow the City of Peterborough to take the first steps in decriminalizing those experiencing homelessness. This step must be taken to work towards ensuring no one is denied the fundamental right to housing.
To the Members of Peterborough City Council and The Chief Administrative Officer,
The issue
Year-round, there are people in Peterborough who are experiencing homelessness and living outside. Due to shelter restrictions (colloquially known as bans), a desire to care for a pet, substance use and/or mental health challenges, there are people for whom the shelter system is not accessible. It is also the case that our emergency shelters are at capacity most nights – and people are not always eligible for the beds that are available (e.g., adults cannot use a bed for a youth).
People experiencing homelessness are doing whatever they can to survive, whether it is squatting, sleeping in a stairwell, or in a public park. Unfortunately, the Parks and Facilities By-law has made sleeping in parks illegal. But there is a provision in the By-law that allows for camping without a permit; we see this as one way to increase the safety and security for people experiencing homelessness in our city. Section 13 of this by-law states that individuals may be allowed to sleep in parks without a permit, should there not be enough shelter space for everyone needing shelter.
Until there is secure and permanent housing for everyone, the City and County of Peterborough should utilize Section 13 of the Parks and Facilities Bylaw so that people have access to bathrooms and a safe place to camp each night.
Use this space to add more detils about your site, a customer quote,or to talk about important news.
Displacement of individuals living in homelessness is a reality in Peterborough.
In 2019, in response to the emergence of tent city, the City of Peterborough passed the Parks and Facilities Bylaw making it illegal to sleep in parks or set up tents without a permit.² Tent City disappeared, but those who occupied it did not. Instead they were threatened with fines and forced to camp out of view. People now have to ask permission to survive, and there is no clear way for them to do so if they are unable to use or choose not to use our emergency shelter system. We see this happening in cities and communities across Canada. While we have not had a series of major encampments being torn down in our community, since the dismantling of our own Tent City, tents and people’s belongings are quietly being confiscated and people moved along on an ongoing basis.
On the City of Peterborough’s Parks website, there are no instructions on how to request a permit to be allowed to sleep in a park. There are, however, clear instructions on how to “report prohibited tenting in a City park.”¹⁰
The meaning of criminalization is “the action of turning someone into a criminal by making their activities illegal.”⁶ This is what we are doing to individuals living in poverty.
One individual currently sleeping outside in Peterborough this winter stated:
I think when people are living outside, they are much more likely to break the law to survive. It’s -30 out, you bet I’m busting through a door to stay warm. If we were able to set up a tent somewhere, have the supplies and blankets we needed, we wouldn’t have to commit crimes to make it through the night (personal communication, January 27, 2022).
98% of individuals surveyed choose housing over homelessness
Those who do not feel safe or who are unable to access the shelter system now have no legal place to sleep. COVID-19, along with rising class inequity and the marked shift in housing as an investment for the wealthy versus a basic human need, has exacerbated the magnitude of outdoor homelessness across Canada. Diminishing supply of shelter beds, housing and community supports has forced unhoused individuals to address their needs by using provisional solutions such as sleeping on the street, outside, and in stairwells; using the bathroom outside either in public or on private property; and disposing of garbage on the street where trash cans aren’t available. These activities aren’t comfortable or enjoyable for anyone, and people wouldn’t choose to live this way if they had another option. At least 98% of individuals surveyed in the Peterborough Point in Time Count 2018 stated they would choose housing over homelessness.¹⁵
There are several reasons why someone would need to set up shelter outside, and insufficient shelter space is only one of them. Some people don’t feel comfortable using emergency shelters, while others face service restrictions that don’t allow them access. From 2020 to 2021, the total number of people who have received temporary or indefinite bans from shelters has increased 300%; In the fourth quarter of 2020, 56 individuals received 133 restrictions. In the third quarter of 2021, 123 individuals received 394 restrictions. Without shelter as an option, these individuals have few, if any, legal places to exist.
We can take a step forward. Section 13 of the Parks and Facilities By-Law states:
Where the CAO [Chief Administrative Officer], in consultation with any of the Commissioner of Community Services, the Manager, Social Services or the Manager, Public Works, is satisfied that the number of locally available shelter beds is less than the number of individuals in need of shelter, the CAO may permit such individuals to erect and be within temporary structures, huts or tents in a Park without a permit.²
In other words, Peterborough’s Chief Administrative Officer has the power to allow those experiencing homelessness to set up shelter in public parks without fear of being fined and having their belongings taken. To make this happen, the CAO needs to recognize that Peterborough currently has fewer shelter beds than people in need of shelter, and then make the decision to allow individuals to sleep in parks.
This crisis is not new.
The City of Peterborough’s own numbers show that we’ve been at this point since at least April 2019.¹¹ From two Freedom of Information Act requests made in 2021, we have learned the following: There are 91 shelter beds in Peterborough. Shelters are often at or near capacity, with an average of 13 beds available in the system on any given night, many of which are only available to youth [aged 16-24].¹² Since May of 2020, there have been an average of 106 people who are experiencing homelessness and spend the majority of their nights outside the shelter system (outdoors, couch surfing, hospitals, etc.). Even if all shelter beds were available, there are still not enough for all those not accessing the shelter system right now. And, in actuality, 86% of shelter beds are consistently occupied.¹²
Tents are not the answer: housing is. But in the absence of affordable, safe, and accessible housing, what are people to do? Those currently living outside have named this as one temporary measure that can provide some stability as they seek out housing.
What do the City’s numbers tell us about how many folks are homeless in Peterborough?
How many emergency shelter beds do we really have?
According to the City’s numbers, the available shelter beds are significantly lower than the number of individuals who are homeless and spending most of their time outside shelter.
The number of available shelter beds for adults has steadily decreased throughout 2021. By November 2021, there were 0 beds on average for adults in Peterborough’s shelter system.
We cannot punish our way to ending homelessness. To do so actually works against the City’s own homelessness response in the following three ways:
Rehousing efforts are more difficult.
The City of Peterborough has committed to a philosophy called “Housing First.”³ This is a philosophy based on choice, immediate access to housing, harm reduction and recovery, and integrating people into the community. By making tenting illegal, we are at odds with this philosophy. When people are constantly asked to move along and their belongings and tents are consistently thrown away, we are uprooting any small fraction of stability and community that they have established. We limit their access to health care, housing opportunities and intensify their depth of need by further destabilizing and causing increased recurring trauma.⁵ Rather than integrating people into the community, they are pushed further out.
Connection is lost with the most vulnerable in our community.
The City of Peterborough uses a Coordinated Access System to work towards ending homelessness.³ The aim of this system is to know every person experiencing homelessness by name and their unique needs. By forcing people experiencing homelessness out of sight, we lose valuable opportunities to engage with them. The City reported that 48% of the people who exit the coordinated access system are moved to “inactive” because they are not seen or heard from in 90 days.⁷ This suggests we need to do better to keep in touch with people to know that we are prioritizing the most vulnerable for the available housing and supports.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the disconnection. Organizations providing mobile vaccination clinics in our community have struggled to find individuals sleeping rough in order to provide access to vaccinations, and even wound care.
We violate people's human rights.
As stated earlier, the City of Peterborough is committed to a “Housing First” philosophy.³ Central to “Housing First” is the belief that housing is a human right. International human rights law states that housing is a fundamental right linked to dignity and life – and governments are thus responsible for ensuring that all people have access to adequate housing. Canada’s National Housing Strategy Act declares the right to housing on a national scale.⁹ As inadequate as it is, a tent is a person’s house, and until the municipal government is able to offer an alternative, we are violating people’s human rights by making it illegal for them to set it up.
It has been done.
This is what other Canadian cities are doing.
In a case that bears similarities to Peterborough, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled in favour of an encampment in Prince George back in October 2021, citing the city’s insufficient shelter space for its unhoused population. He also noted that its lack of low barrier shelters posed additional barriers to those living with mental health disorders and addiction.⁸
Further, in January 2022, another B.C. judge ruled against evictions issued against residents of an encampment in Vancouver’s CRAB Park. Justice Kirchner wrote that the Vancouver Park Board’s general manager did not consider how this would interfere with the residents’ ability to access necessary services and facilities. He asserted that the residents have a right to be given adequate notice and an opportunity to be heard before issuing such orders.¹⁵
This is our request:
Until the City of Peterborough can ensure all residents have access to safe and adequate housing or, at the very least, shelter beds available to anyone who requires them, we, the undersigned, are urging Peterborough City Council to request the CAO enact Section 13 of the Parks and Facilities By-Law. In addition, we request the City of Peterborough open a park where those experiencing homelessness can set up tents legally, with access to water, toilet facilities, and supports. This would allow the City of Peterborough to take the first steps in decriminalizing those experiencing homelessness. This step must be taken to work towards ensuring no one is denied the fundamental right to housing.
Join the effort
Please add your name, position, &/or connection to this issue. We will then manually add your name to the original letter. We will present the letter to City Council on May 23rd 2022.
We won’t share your email with anyone. if you’d like to receive email updates on events and initiatives regarding Section 13: Permission to survive please check Yes under “I’d like to sign up for email updates.”
Those of us who have signed
Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough
One Roof Community Centre
Peterborough Aids Resource Network
Community Counselling and Resource Centre
One City Peterborough
360 Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic
The John Howard Society of Peterborough
Greenwood United Church
Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough
Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region
And 825 individuals:
Mary Kay volunteer at One City
Margie Sumadh homeowner in the downtown. Advocate for Tiny Homes for the Homeless
Bill Templeman Father, citizen
Ruth and Don Benson Human
Linda Slavin
Kollene Drummond
Erika Steinhubl Citizen
Melodie McCullough
Andrew MacGregor Program Coordinator, One Roof Community Centre
Mary Gordon Supporter
Jim Abel
Elizabth Beatrix QuarrieI live here, I see the need
Susan Gleeson
Stephen Ginley PTBO resident with a concern for the marginalized
Matt Barlow Community advocate/ Bridges Peterborough
Annie Hedden Program Manager, Housing Resource Centre
Charlotte Smith Resident concerned for the well-being of all
Andrea Barrett
Joyce Murray Concerned Citizen
Peggy Abbott Active in supporting programs that support the homeless. Stand for housing with dignity for all
Joanne Jackson Supporter
Kelly McDowell
Peter Woolidge
Pamela Van Nest Concerned Citizen
Bonnie Jull community member
Jeffrey Mason Concerned citizen
Ben Taylor
Theresa Phillips Community support worker
Alana Parisien Housing coordinator
Craig Paterson
Sheila Nabigon-Howlett Steering Committee of Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes: PATH
AnneTrudell Concerned community member
Jo Hayward-Haines Saturday lunch St. John’s
Andy Guthrie Front line worker / food insecurity/ homelessness/ harm reduction
Tim Snoddon
Hélène Thibert Love your neighbour as Yourself
Nuala Murnane
Nicole McLeod Until the city can be responsive to the needs of the unhoused or marginalized then this is the only solution.
Charmaine Magumbe
Gloria MacDonald AB10 years Correctional experience
Susan Gontier Activist/Tiny Homes advocate
Donna McDougall
Shelley Hermer Social Worker
Anne Wilson Concerned City of Ptbo Resident
Brian Nichols citizen of Peterborough
Jackie Sherry Caring citizen
Rosanna Zerafa Abraham festival committee
Dave Sumner Volunteer with PATH
Debbie Carriere Executive Director, Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough
Richard Abbott Concerned and caring resident of Peterborough
Tom Childs Citizen
Dane CHRISTOPHER Wilton Member, Food Not Bombs
Gianne Broughton Human Being
Cheryl Lyon Former Social Housing Administrator, Peterborough City & County; Board of Directors, Bedford House/Bridges Peterborough
Tamara Kuehne One City Peterborough Staff - working in Peterborough with unhoused folks for 8 years
Lucas Schaefer Sexual Violence Prevention Education Coordinator
Kristal Jones Front Line Worker
Rebecca Turland Director on the Board of Bedford House
Abby Obress Peer Support Worker for marginalized and vulnerable community members such as those unhoused, using drugs, or experiencing mental health issues
Margaret Slavin I am a landlord and on the steering committee of Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes.
Em Patterson CYW
Cassy S - As a bail supervisor for the Peterborough area, it is alarming to witness the rising rates of homelessness. During an ongoing and worsening housing crisis, it is unacceptable that you would not allow people to take shelter in the parks, knowing the lack o
Morgan McNamee Human Being - (I also work at one roof)
Christian Harvey Executive Director, One City Peterborough
Jennifer Turtscher Floor Supervisor at ORCC
Devon Turtscher My mom works at one roof, and I am a resident of Peterborough
Syg Good allow it
Emily Bennett Community member
Sarah Cullingham Researcher, Research for Social Change Lab (Trent University)
Heather Temple
Amanda Pratt I believe human beings should be treated like human beings
Monica McNamee Registered Nurse
Caryl Miller I have been aware of the housing problem for some time. I do what I can to help
Diotallevi Julia Downtown community member
Calista Williams Advocate for human rights
Annessa Stillman Community Community Programs Manager - EFry
Corrina Plumley
Kelly McCarthy Social worker, community member
Jill Snoddon placement student at Elizabeth Fry
Brooke Erickson Community member
Kathy Neil Executive Director, John Howard Society
Janalyn Dodds Social Worker
Scott Cecchin
Simal Iftikhar Coordinated the virtual sleep out last year
Ryan Perks concerned citizen / fellow human being
Megan Forestell Work at YWCA with individuals experiencing homelessness
Sarah V
Melissa Free Transitional Housing Manager
Claire Belding Justice Services Case Manager Elizabeth Fry Society
Bill Clark JHS Finance Manager
Jennifer Kilby The right to housing is a human right. Not finding or having appropiate housing is a failure on behalf of Fed, Pro, Min, City, Town, MPS, MAYORS. Their job is public service. The greatest need in this City and many is the lack of appropriate housing.
Caela YES Staff
Jenn MacDonald Community Resident with family members who have experienced homelessness
Anna Eidt Downtown resident and business owner
Dillon Ahola Community member
Lalla Maiga I believe everyone should have the right to find comfortable refuge and the homelessness issue in Peterborough is abysmal. The bare minimum we can do is allow them access to park without being prosecuted
Bailey Giff Third Year BSW Student from Trent U
Sarah Moret Concerned citizen
Caitanya Pandith Peterborough Resident
Bailey Crough you
Amy Rosborough Concerned citizen of Peterborough County
Calli Telford Social Worker
Rob Jacka Family physician who cares about this particularly disadvantaged group
Madeleine Ganly Peterborough resident
Shannon Graham
Brooklin Holbrough Downtown business worker and local resident
Moss Huard I have been in unstable housing situations for nearly a year, and have nearly ended up sleeping outside several times. Really having to grapple with how I’d be living made me even more aware of an issue I was already passionate about, and I’m absolutely
Alivia Buchan Community member
Thamer Linklater Researcher, Research for Social Change Lab, Trent University
Brenda Stillman I agree they should be given a place that is safe
Courtney Palczert Homeless rights activist
Samantha Fillion Family Homelessness Worker
Amanda McBain
Dawn Fidler Executive Director
Taylor Sima Community member
Mana Martin Student
Blake Caissie Peer Support Worker for Elizabeth Fry Society
Angela O’Grady Resident of Peterborough
Brianna Sweeting A lifelong Peterborough resident and current social work student appalled by the City’s response to people experiencing homelessness and the actions taken against people living in the ‘Tent city’ a few years ago.
Rhonda Lowes community friend
Carolyn Loeb Community member
Adrienne Barnes BSW, RSW, frontline worker
Kerri Boyd Chair, Board of Directors, YES Shelter for Youth and Families
Rob Hotston Chair, Board of Directors, John Howard Society of Peterborough
John Watson No evictions from parklands. Let people sleep and live.
Sheila Van den Heuvel-Collins One City volunteer
Jacquelyn Craft
Emily MacFarlane Peterborough Citizen of 22 Years
Alexandra Stetler Community Member
Megan Community member/community partner
Megan Whitmore Service Navigation Coordinator
Jocelyn Enright Community worker
Elyssa Bisset Intake Worker - CCRC
Elisa Hollingsworth Concerned Citizen
Britt Zeus Peterborough Citizen
Emily Buckley Intake/SST Counsellor; personal advocate of affordable housing and decriminalization of homelessness
Gabriella Muto
Alfreda Thompson Resident
Carly Dupont
Tara Aune
Simone Zhu Student and community member
Peter Williams concerned resident who lives and works in downtown Peterborough
Allison Wight Secretary on Board of Directors at Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough
Auden Palmer Housing Counsellor
Olivia Rossetti Student and resident
Jessica Evans Everyone has a right to Housing. Being unhoused should not be criminalized. Divert your funds to housing community members rather than criminalizing them.
Franky Patten community member
Graham MacNeil community member
Rain Gill Peterborough native, social justice advocate, ally
Maya Passmore
Jess Gabor Social worker
Helena Acton Homeless Shelter Staff
Laura Keresztesi
Kaitlynn Bronson
Hailey McFadden Homelessness is a symptom if a failing society. If our elected officials can’t work to address this epidemic, they can at the VERY LEAST provide a venue to allow folks to sleep legally.
Valentine Teasdale NP Community Fridge coordinator
Sarah Gerow An individuals who had family members that suffered from homelessness
Sarah Tobiss Resident of Peterborough
Jessica Poliquin Educator
Shannon Avery SSW/MHAW student doing placements in community
Rania Maarouf Peterborough resident
Graham Petty Youth and Parent Programs Facilitator, The John Howard Society of Peterborough
Tyler McIntosh
Talea Moore Concerned citizen
Rachel Pace
Kylie Pennell
Melissa Wilson I live in ptbo and care about these people
Mattison Proulx Would like to help anyway I can
Umut Ergul Peterborough resident/homeowner
Gillian Turnham Resident of Peterborough
Jared Barrieau
Paige Student in ptbo
Wren Armstron
Ben Jacobs Concerned Citizen
Ashley Calder Community Member
Rudy Fischer Concerned citizen
Bob Fantauzzi
Correen Day Justice Services Manager at the Elizabeth Fry Society. My connection to the issue is not just in supporting and advocating for social justice but I am a part of this community and we need to support each other in the community not shut or marginalize folk
Stevie Walsh
Josephine Sippola Downtown resident
Hannah Bostick I’m a person who believes people should have a palce to live
T Bunce Community Outreach
Chantilly mcKinnon Resident
Eleanor Anckaert Caring Peterborough resident
Linda Smith
Shaela McLeod My mother experiences homelessness
Ava Bruns Community member
Shivaan Burke Human
Chelsea B Peterborough resident
Riley Meekin Agree
Larissa
Ness Pringle Advocate, Friend, Peterborough Resident
Jordan Anderson Student
Eric Post
Ring Jamie
Julie Murphy Everyone should have a secure safe place
Krista Beer
Rev. Canon Brad Smith Rector, St. John’s Anglican Church
Heather Mcmataer Resident of Peterborough
Julie Whatley Family Member
Jensyn Clark
Valentine Blackwell There is a constant increase in homelessness. These People are unable to get jobs because of the qualifications and necessities needed. They need some sort of shelter, any sort of shelter. A park is the least officials can give them but it’s something.
Manny
Stuart Ross I believe that all people
Jon Hedderwick Employment Counsellor, Artists and Activists
Larissa Rizzo YWCA Family support worker
Gordon Halsey Concerned and spiritually driven fellow human being, personal outreach volunteer, social sustainability researcher 9MA Sustainability Studies, Trent ‘16)
Halley Pickard Nurse/recovering addict from addiction
Makayla Dunford I live in Peterborough and something needs to be done about the housing crisis and homelessness. It breaks my heart
Kim Kennelly Front line worker
Tiffany Christie Support
Tina Gonnermann Concerned citizen of Peterborough
Alex Bierk Downtown Resident, Downtown business owner
Sandy Garvey Finance & Administrative Assistant with CCRC
Kristal Jones Front Line Worker
Calvin Bakelaar
Cyrus Williams Let them sleep there, let them survive
Jessica VanLingen Sister works at One Roof Community Centre
Jordon Hale Caring human being
Justina Stephens Downtown resident
Gabriella McIntosh Local
Laura Mead People deserve the right to sleep as safely as possible while experiencing homelessness
Ayanna Leak
Shannon LeBlanc Community member
Tyler Watson
Caroline Garland
Melissa Wood Becoming poor with the way this world is going
Ian Dales
Caileigh McKnight Community member
Amy Community member
Lou DeLong child/youth agency
Mary Kapron
Hallie Sd Student concerned about the well being of others
Eliza Rubacha O’Hearn Research assistant on HF4Y, person with lived experience, former shelter assistant at YES, community member
KateLyn Wright Transitional Housing Worker with Indigenous Youth
Christine Logan As a fellow human, I care about other people. Those who are houseless are a part of our communities. We should all care about them
Sam MacAndrew
Heather Litster Community member
Chris Poschmann Member of the Peterborough community
Reuben Noteboom Supportive Community Member
Gracie Kees
Haley Milan
Jane Brown Client Service Coordinator @ BIAPR and personally invested in a person’s right to survive
Sarah Brodeur Social Worker
Viva
Tyler George Registered Social Worker (RSW)
Sadie Brown
Brianne Dunford
Margaret Camp Recreation Therapist at Brain Injury Association Peterborough (BIAPR)
Jacob Hanna I live in Peterborough
Caitlin Bragg Chair, Elizabeth Fry Society Board of Directors
Alyssa Scanga
Marina Mercurio
Trent Rhode
Kassidy C.
Matt Drewes Affordable housing!!!
Tatiana Gabbidon Student at Trent’s Peterborough campus
Taylor Lalonde I live in Peterborough and think this is a positive and necessary change to support the homeless in the area
Jennifer Elchuk human who cares about other humans
Caroline Henson Social work student
Emily
Hailey Hicks BSW Graduate at Trent University
Ava Horvath Peterborough resident who cares about the homeless community
La Macdonald Peterborough resident
Justin Brodeur
Leigh Carrod Peterborough home owner, CCRC staff
Colleen McLean Work in the downtown area
Courtney Patrick Mental Health Clinician
Helena Rank Citizen
Meradith Korteweg Community Member
Gordon Roberts
Brazil Gaffney-Knox Community Member
Cassidy Robertson I live in Peterborough and see this every day.
Trish Campbell Member of PATH (Ptbo Action for Tiny Homes)
Kathleen F
Courtney Neilson Trent University Student
Carissa Hickson
Tracy Campbell
Carter
Eden Rikkerink Student advocate
Owen Walsh Downtown Peterborough Resident and Worker
Evelyn
Bea Chan Community member
Myel Goller
Dorothy Newmaster Former One Roof volunteer
Ty Kraemer Community member
Reilly Lafreniere Supporter and I believe that the homeless need more support
Rachael McDonald I live in Peterborough
Caitlin Burkholder Caring Citizen
Melissa Legge Human being that cares
Frances Wilbur Board member of EFry Peterborough
Laura Page Student at Trent
Mat Bloom
Janet Reeves
Sarah Resident of Peterborough
Robert Laycock Citizen of Peterborough
Hillary Dextrase Community-based housing researcher
Bonnie Tennant Caring member of society
Kim Winter I’ve seen the tents in the parks around the city, there must be a better way for people. Living in tents in the parks is not safe. And at a minimum health care needs to be considered with water and bathrooms.
Jennifer Hilborn Clinics Psychologist
Rosa Vance Volunteer
Ann Barrett Concerned Citizen
Jamie Lee Resident in Peterborough
Martha Nydam Resident of Peterborough. Wish the city would take responsibility for the housing and opioid crisis
Nicola Koyanagi Concerned Citizen
Robyn French I am entering the field of mental health and addictions. This is a matter of human rights, and the bylaw would help to remove some of the barriers unhoused people face
Sharon Watkins Concerned citizen
Connie McKay Concerned community member
Jan Norman Years long employee of One Roof Community Centre
Shuna Heeney Daughter works at One City
Anna Kluwe
Sue Baxter The homeless are always on my heart
Tegan Moss Belief in the dignity of houseless people and importance of decriminalization
Kaitlin Murphy Student in town
Peter Earle
Dean Heiler I live here in Peterborough
Jaime Macleod
Scott Couper Street Level Advocate
Said Jiddawy Community Member
Emma Macdonald A community member concerned for the safety of our houseless neighbours
Michu Jena Local resident
Joleen Edmondson
Megan Hunter Concerned Ptbo Community Member
Caitlin Currie
Patricia Donnelly CCRC Board Member. Concerned community member
Mary Ireland
Luke Best For the movement
Allyson Rader Community member/social worker
Nick Dew Homeless
Jenny Kennedy-Bloom with and love the people
Chandel D’Amico
Adeilah Dahlke
Faith Resident
Aubrey Apps Live in Peterborough
Zoe Fennell
Tamara Mann Know about the situation
Quentin Day Concerned citizen
Sandra Bodini Teacher
Margo Cann Someone who would be homeless if I didn’t have friends/family who support me…not everyone has that and those people deserve a place to sleep!!! THE SHELTER IN PTBO ONLY HAS SO MUCH SPACE.
Erin Rideout Concerned citizen
Glen Caradus Please allow a park for tents So concerned of the situation
Bill Jenkins
Caelin Morrison
Everett Maixx
Reverend Allan Smith-Reeve Greenwood United Church
Isaac Maker Homelessness is inherently wrong and should be taken far more seriously
Matthew Maker Sociocultural linguistic anthropologist who conducted research in the brilliant city of Peterborough
Emma Canning I live here
Julie Cosgrove A Peterboroughian with an interest in an inclusive, safe, and welcoming city for everyone. I will love to see Peterborough become a leader and model city in addressing poverty and homelessness/precarious housing
Wendy Van Monsjou One roof volunteer
Naomi Nichols Trent Professor (Sociology) and Canada Research Chair in Community-Partnered Social Justice: Lead Researcher for the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and Making the Shift: Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab
Jinian Harwig Resident of Peterborough
Jayne Malenfant Researcher, longtime Peterborough resident
Maddie Porter Former shelter worker
Maggie Drover Student at Trent
Heather Vance Peterborough Resident
Kaz de Moraes
Kate Matthews Citizen of Peterborough
Tara Locke
Lori Sainte Resident in Peterborough Ont
Jordan Appleman Citizen
Lois Webster Care about human rights and poverty
Spencer Wells
Renee Howard ODSP recipient, low income
Sarah Van den Berg City of ptbo resident
Kaila
Marissa Peters Livs in Peterborough
Elena Lonero RN
Aleah Hazan Physician
Luke Whale Community member, human, social work student
Kyle Arsenault Dr.
Abby Hatherly
Nicole Robert Social Work Student
Desiree Mathews
Linnea Veloce Local resident
Susan Newberry Belief
Gill Holmes Past Community member
Zoe Easton Peterborough resident
Caitlin Prest Supporting the bill as a former front line crisis worker, advocate for housing and access to services
Nicole Conboy
Aakriti Pandey Resident of Peterborough
Doren Beard
Jessica Voigt Resident of Peterborough
Emily Rogers Nannarone Community Mental Health counselling & social worker
Samarth Sarin
Carly Johnston Resident of Peterborough
Lindsey Woodward I care about all members of our community
Chloe Research Assistant, studied folks experiencing homelessness and their access to supports within CKL.
Maureen Soch Donor
Kerri Jobe City Resident
Carly Armstrong Community member
Karen Beaney Community Member
Joanne Rowland volunteer with One City
Kristy Buccieri Associate Professor, Trent University
Kathleen Ramsay Member of what is supposed to be a civil society
Michael VanDerHerberg Housing Director at One City Peterborough
Ashley Magyar Not housed appropriately
Anton Selmeczi Concerned citizen
Rheanna Christie I’m human
Celina Carmichael
Muna Ahmed Community Organizer, Coordinator of CWTP
Douglas Schieder City Resident
Brooke Martin
Ruth Perkins Peterborough Resident
Katy Catchpole student in Peterborough
Karen Ward
Emilia Wilson Graduated Housing Support Worker
Courtney Cavanagh One City Peterborough
Luca Schaefer Sexual Violence Prevention Education Coordinator
Samantha Blondeau Peterborough resident, One City board member with lived experience of homelessness
Joan Lawless
Dan Hennessey I meet with many daily. Can’t understand why more isn’t done. Brock mission is criminal in bans as housing is recognized by the UN as a human right.
Will Pearson Manager, Research for Social Change Lab
Jeffrey Macklin Live downtown
Amanda Buelow Downtown Peterborough Resident
Ann Jaeger Peterborough resident who cares about homelessness
Cheri Patrick
Julia McGregor
Carol Harvey former Warming Room and One Roof volunteer
Brian Harvey Retired concerned citizen and volunteer at the Warming Room and One Roof Community Centre
Rosie Aiello Housing is a basic human right
Lynds VanderWal I just care for basic human rights
Jeff Chislett My mother experiences homelessness, I have experienced homelessness, and I live near City Hall, which means I am constantly hearing the agonized wailing of those this city has so gleefully abandoned.
Theresa Philips Community member
Elizabeth Flagler It’s moral, ethical, and legal wrongdoing to punish people for experiencing homelessness.We have a duty as a community to protect the most vulnerable members. It benefits everyone to secure housing for all.
Marisa Mackenzie Lived experience of homelessness, discrimination, food and housing insecurity, and poverty.
Anne Pasek
Emma Scott
Glen Caradus Please allow a park. So concerned of the situation
Angela Falkowska caring human
Sioux Dickson I’m disabled and poor. I’m in the part of the iceberg where the homeless-in-waiting reside. The titanic will look like an afternoon swim if the precarious become homeless to ensure the landlords can get market rent.
Ceanna Pollard
Dean Hurren Let’s just try human
Desiree Kretschmar I own a business downtown and no one should have to sleep in a doorway like ours each night. People deserve a home and support no matter what they are going through.
Catherine Hill
Angela Wall Experienced homelessness
Alyssa Hawley Ally
Monica Weller Concerned citizen
Leila Maher People have the right to personal space, respect, and relative safety, even if they don’t own property or cannot find housing.
Chris Seymour One of the homeless
June Stockwell
Emily Gryck Community member
Tracy Emery Local shelter frontline worker and Concerned citizen
Gillian Balfour Board member of One City Peterborough
Erin McLeod Community member who believes that housing is a human right, not a privilege
Liz Kieffer Community member
Joshua Fink Social Worker
Carleen Johnson
Lucie Lalande Concerned citizens of Peterborough
Tyler Frederick Associate Professor/Homelessness Researcher
Kody Crowell Research assistant/ Street worker
Ralph Colley Support the need in lieu of real housing
Cyndi Gilmer
Jean Koning 99-year old advocate for my homeless brothers and sisters
Margaret Bonigut Day Service Facilitator, BIAPR
Geri Blinick Community member and affordable housing advocate
Susan Irwin I am not in a position of authority nor am I connected to the issue, however I have made a statement on FB with regard to this and questioned why, with all the vacant land around the city, that a site was not set up for the homeless.
Roy Brady
Marlene Steele
Sara Crouthers I support my neighbours in encampments
Jean Giroux Parent, citizen
Sherry Blenden Peterborough County resident
Tracey Wodnisky Registered Social Worker in Peterborough/Clinical Counsellor
Katelyn James One City Peterborough Operations Director
Jennifer Noel Nurse Navigator, Peterborough Family Health Team. I do equity work with many people suffering from housing and food insecurity.
Carol Grady Advocate for all people
Faelan Dobbin Advocate
Susan Jones Concerned person
Judy Amsbury A 20 year volunteer in the area of food and shelter insecurity. Member of PATH
Sandra Lockwood A concerned citizen of Peterborough
Myles Conner Downtown business owner and employer since 2005
Dawn Jones Concerned Community member
Lianne Landry
Joel Herman Shelter worker and resident of Peterborough
Daniel Plouffe Homeless people deserve a place
Beverley Templar Grace United Church
Evan Brockest
Donna Boyle I need a position to act humanely to my fellow citizens?
Jacob Polowin Peterborough resident
Katharine Viscardis
Jimmy Frickey Parent and former Youth Outreach Worker at YES Shelter for Youth and Families
Doug Mason
Dawn Cox
Sylvia Keesmaat Board Member of an agency that works with the homeless
Brian Walsh Board Member, A Place Called Home, Lindsay
George Fogarasi Neighbour. Citizen. Father. Human.
Andrea Monos
Shirley Hurd A Christian who believes all people have a right to safe housing, food, and water
Rob Bartlett
John Gearin
Tammy Delahey
Christopher Ratz
Miriam Verburg Home owner on the river
Robert Ball ORCC worker
Alan Slavin Concerned Citizen
Rhea Eady I am a local mental health counsellor and would like to add my voice to advocate for those living street rough
Anya Gwynne Poverty and harm
Benn Smith
Sherry Ellison Personally knows someone dealing with homelesness
Janice White Daughter on ODSP in need of housing
Cynthia Conner concerned resideent of Ptbo.
Ben Ellison
Gary Doughty concerned citizen
Hugh MacAdam Volunteer with One City’s CoSA Program
Christine Lewis Emmanuel united church
Katherin Snajd Zabehlicky www.bridgespeterborough.ca
Nancy Dunlop
Jane Garant Social Worker
Murray MacAdam Volunteer with One of City’s CoSA Program
Miriam Lyall human, local
Mary Mattos County resident wishing to see that basic needs be met.
Danielle Student in Social Service Worker program
Scott Pind Supporter
Sharon Harrison Very concerned citizen
Reg Williams
William Ward psw
Connor McClellan Housing is a basic human right
Andy Foeller I live in Ptbo.
Sarah St. Pierre Resident of Peterborough
Christina Jones Realtor
Charlotte Kennedy My position is being a human who lives here
Kelly Pensom NP Lead/Clinical Director, Peterborough 360 Degree NPLC (primary care providers serving marginalized neighbours)
Jennifer Kloosterman Director of Peterborough Youth Unlimited, hosted StopGap program over winter of 2021/2022; connection to youth experiencing homelessness
Gail Newman Thinks housing is a basic need
Jodi Morris Transitional housing worker
Cheri Anderson Live in the community
Suzanne Yip Choy
Jenny Leyderman Resident
Jane Mark Registered Nurse
Melinda Wall Having worked in the mental health and addictions field for over 15 years, I see how those with mental health and addictions issues are both disproportionately represented among the homeless population, and also how homelessness worsens individuals’ mental health
Emily Lessard RN
Ted McDowell I’m homeless
Erin Mowbray
Andrea Holtrusts
JoElla O’Neill Concerned Peterborian
Britt Lehmann-Bender Physician treating people with addiction
Jason Wallwork Citizen
Vivian Heinmiller
Cassandra Lee
Carolyn King Compassionate community member and professional harm reduction worker
San Williamson
Bob Tyne Advocate
Alex Ramsay A frustrated citizen who can’t understand the complete lack of co-operation from the city of Peterborough
Marjory Ouellette Permission to Sleep outside, providing they pick up after themselves as well please
David Stewart Registered Social Service Worker working in mental health and addiction services
Liz Mcfadden Outreach worker
Sakina Kirefu
Rena Ridley
Jamie OBrien Resident
Brieanna Higgins Citizen of Peterborough
Sue Grafe Nurse Practitioner/Instructor
Sheila Duncan
Selina Posthumus
Corinne Maynard Peterborough resident. Father experienced homelessness for approximately 20yrs
Robert Ross Anglican priest
Jessi Dobyns Family Physician
Mohamed Abdelhady Economics PhD / Academic
Peggy Fillier Concerned member of St James United Church
Chris James Outreach/ Street Registered Nurse - working with homelessness, complex mental health, and substance use
Mackenzie Earle Volunteer at One City
Liam Woodward
Kaitlyn Earle Sister volunteers
Cynthia Earle Concerned citizen
J
Terri Rodgers RPN
Keith Anderson Nurse
Rosemary Shaughnessy Resident of Peterborough
John Shaughnessy Resident of Peterborough
Chrystal Woodhouse Concerned citizen
Gail Parry I am a member of Moms Stop the Harm and have also lost my daughter to addiction. I feel this is necessary until this city can provide housing for everyone
Marney Horton Citizen of Peterborough
Mkwa Giizhis Indigenous Harm Reduction Consultant
Fenna Green Citizen
Marlee Lunshof Demand safe and dignified housing now!
Alexandra Taylor Citizen of PTBO, Social Worker
Rosemary Macadam Social Worker
Veronica Hartshorn Social Worker
James Lowes
Krystal
Rebecca Wasson
Mackenzie Clark Outreach worker in community
Madison McRae Concerned Citizen
Carolyn Anderson
Ashleigh Swerdfeger Concerned Citizen
Husayn D Concerned business owner
Erin Dyson Downtown Resident
Carley Smale Peterborough Resident
Rebecca Robers
Emma Robers Concerned citizen
Tracy Sallaway
Krista Kayser Community member
Lynn Smith-Reeve
Katie Gibbs Advocate
Bryan St. John’s
Julie Van Haaften United Church Clergy
Terry Kloosterman
John Fraser Jull Supporter of One City
Diane Passmore Concerned
Dean Haggerty Member of Emmanuel United Church
Shannon Lee Mental Health Worker
Susan Hubay Concerned Citizen of Peterborough
Nikolay Afonin Housing Support Coordinator
Lauren Corindia
Lauren MacLachlan Peterborough resident
Christine Booth I am currently sleeping outside. I have had my belongings removed dozens of times. It’s demonic.
Casey Scott-Montgomery Currently sleeping rough
Anne Smith Concerned Citizen of Peterborough and its fellow inhabitants
Melissa Baldwin Community member
Karine Rogers
Pat Dunn
Jenessa Perreault
Velvet Lacasse
Kirsten Woodend Chair, board MPLC; associate professor, Trent/Fleming school of nursing
Tarin Duncan Keeping one another safe and doing something to help another person is the right thing to do
Danielle Markson Community member
Patricia Murphy
Court Ostic
Erinn Burke
Pat Ryans Peterborough resident
Christopher Lawe I had to sleep outside for several months
Dr. Jessica Barr
Jacob Van Haaften Graduate Student
Lesa Fox Clinical Coordinator, Fleming College PN Program
Hannah McFarlane
Luke Shauf Fundraising Coordinator at One City Peterborough
Jennifer Kilby The right to housing is a human right. Not finding or having appropriate housing is a failure on behalf of Fed, Pro, Min, City, Town, MPS, Mayors. Their job is public service. The greatest need in this City and many is the lack of appropriate housing.
Tina McConnell
Jack Thajer Student in Peterborough
Kristen Mommertz Accessibility Educator & Downtown Ptbo Resident for over a decade
Vicky Boomgaardt
Rebecca Glen Citizen
Andy Cragg Downtown resident
Ian Holmes Community member
Leah Kivisaari Nurse
Emily Rumble
Melissa ODonohue Intensive Case Manager Mobile Support Overdose Resource Team
Olivia Wright
Ryan Mclean Purdon Social Worker
Colleen Cumming
PATH Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes
Genevieve Lavallee Concerned fellow human being
Ann Austin Citizen
Danielle Rinsma Compassion
Jason Richards Have experienced homelessness and slept outside on many nights. There should be more options.
Jody Allen Time for Tiny Homes…
Morgan Murray
Kellie Bonnici
Ben Kloosterman Empathy for the poor
Ruth Schaeffer We all need a place to sleep at night
Kelsey Roote Resident of Nogojiwanong/Peterborough
Angie MacDonald Community member
Nicole Menard Permission to survive
Francine Schilke Volunteer
Marianne Pedretti Concerned resident of Peterborough
Richards Patterson Concerned citizen
Carolee Awde Retired health care provider, person
Gervais Vignola Human being
Barbara Herring church member
Aaron Cox Social Worker with Ontario Works Muskoka
Glen Caradus Please allow a park for tenants So concerned for the situation
Angela Lavigne Peterborough Resident
Joy Gaskin Greenwood United Church
Ann Sinclair
Sandy Mills My position is that I care. Homeless folks are not criminals, but our treatment of them is.
Rose Bergeron Resident
Alex Hanbidge-Wilding legal advocate, precariously housed, formerly homeless
Elizabeth
Kathy Mclay Concerned citizen; previously worked in the mental health field
Yvonne Lai Concerned resident
Gemma
Kennedie Close Youth Services Coordinator - John Howard Society CKLH
Mary Howell Citizen
Eva Webster Concerned citizen of the City of Peterborough
Mary Conchelos
Ruth Adams Concerned and caring citizen
Jessica Rustage-Johnston
Barbara Pugh I was previously a store owner in east city where I experienced problems with the homeless. I am retired now living down town it would be nice to reclaim down town for the businesses and residents to live without this problem so I agree
Samantha Rockbrune Peterborough community member
Darryl Parsons Concerned citizen
Mark Stewart Library worker
Andy Fong Library worker
Judy Broersma A concerned person of Peterborough
Gary Bonczak
Lorraine Land Peterborough region citizen
Deborah Wood I work with the homeless
Joan Mackay Concerned Citizen
John
Liza Perry
Norman Favit Landlord, Ptbo resident, father, Christian, Repayer
Danielle Turpin Resident, concerned citizen
Sue Kenton
Jon Matheson
Barry Boyce housed
Linda Vardy
Laurie Collette Administrative Assistant, Trent University/Concerned Citizen
Kevin Maina
Anthony Van Drunen
Bridget Bennewith
Michael Fazackerley Safer Supply Project research assistant
Mary Anne Martin Food System Researcher
Micky Renders Citizen
Crystal Mosey Former warming room volunteer
Stephanie Levesque Peterborough resident
Celeste Joy Uson I support this Open Letter
Sara Mountenay
Jennifer Seeing the homeless being reprimanded for trying to sleep is devastating
Cora Pettigrew Hometown
Caroline Guthrie Ex harm reduction worker,human being with a conscience
Steve Anderson
Mary Jordan Pharmacist with a focus on mental health and addictions
Carl Crusie-Baxter Community member
Jeannine Crowe East city homeowner
Kathy Common Peterborough resident & community volunteer
Kate McBride
Eric Jordan
Nathalie Leblanc I am fighting for a way to decriminalize homelessness
Becky Minten Concerned citizen
Vic Lees Struggling on odsp
Ashley Collins UW Board member
Chris Clements concerned citizen
Marjorie McDonald
Gwedhen Nicholas interest in housing for the homeless
Marisa Barnhart
Walter Howell Concerned ciitizen
Mary Ann Hall I escaped abuseand thankfully ended up in Wolfe Street shelter
Maureen McDonald Retired family physician
Samuel Bourgeois Concerned resident
Stu Burkholder I am a citizen with concern for those denied a home in a commonfied real estate market
Fer Cristall
Jillian Ackert concerned neighbour and community member
Jacquelyn M
Perry McGill I have been homeless and slept outside. There needs to be showers and bathrooms provided.
Kaitlyn Robertson Live in Peterborough
Elizabeth Finuma Town resident;advocate
Brianne Bartlett I’m personally affected by this issue
Stephen Thode I have friends sleeping outside
Vernon Langille Homeless person that has my tent thrown out every week
Peter Pople Homeless
Michael Broderick First-hand sleeping outside due to being attacked in shelter
Jordan Bailey I think my friends should be able to sleep outside
Marsha Jansen I was homeless for 4 years
Jacob Jansen currently outside
Jeanie Switzer People are homeless
Jeff Allan Sleeping outside should be allowed. Being homeless sucks
Istvan Fazekas If we have third world economic conditions, we need to resort to third world housing solutions
Satchel McCracken Concerned Citizen
Will Gillespie Currently living outside
Cliff Nicholson One Roof
Marshall Hamblin Community Member
Joyce Lee Soroptimist
Maggie Allin Soroptimist and concerned citizen
KJ Palmer Soroptimist
J Coleman Soroptimist
M Phelp Soroptimist
S McElsy Soroptimist
J Brown Soroptimist
Catriona Sinclair Concerned Citizen
Mindy Mead Soroptimist
Adam Furfaro
Catriona Sinclair - Concerned citizen
Jill Adams
Laura Greenwood - Housing Locator
Monica Dadurkeviciute
Jodi-Lyn Samphire - On waiting list for affordable housing
Phoenix Armstrong - OPIRG Free Market
Ed Morrison - I see it all the time
Kat Tannock - Shelter is a basic human right
Caitlin Reesor - former Ptbo resident
Zoe Stewart - concerned student and neighbour
Vanessa Hall - Lived Experience of homelessness
Aaron Hansen - Resident of Peterborough
Jessica Haug - Peterborough Resident
Angela Vos - Member MSTH
Kailey Grant - SSW
Kayla Jones - I live downtown
Mike Cote - concerned citizen
Kim Willerton - everyone has a right to a safe place to sleep
The Centre for Women and Trans People - We are deeply invested in this issue
Robert Gibson - Green Party candidate
Missy McLean - human being, frontline worker standing in solidarity with marginalized folks, friend to many currently experiencing homelessness
Lynn Y. - Peterborough resident/activist
Patricia Reesor
Cindy Mytruk - Human Being with respect for other human beings
Taylor Mcilmoyle - worker
Jacquelyn M - concerned neighbour and community member
Fer Cristall
Stu Burkholder - I am a citizen with concern for those denied a home in a commodified real estate market
Samuel Bourgeois - Concerned resident
Maureen McDonald - Retired Family physician
Mary Ann Hall - I escaped abuse and thankfully ended up Wolfe St. shelter
Walter Howell - Concerned citizen
Marisa Barnhart
Gwedhen Nicholas - Interest in housing for the homeless
Marjorie Mcdonald
Chris Clements - concerned citizen
Ashley Collins - UW Board Member
Vic Lees - Struggling on odsp
© 2022
