Fredericton police to slowly dismantle homeless tent sites after propane heater fires
Fredericton, N.B.'s chief of police says the force has no choice but to dismantle homeless camps in the city, after they say two fires were sparked by propane heaters inside the tents.
Police say one fire occurred Tuesday evening at a site on the city’s south side, the other on Wednesday night on the north side.
Chief Roger Brown said they were caused by propane heaters, and in one situation, the wind spread the fire destroying three tents and several people’s belongings.
While no one was hurt, Brown said the force needs to find other options to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
“We have resources in place to deal with their belongings. Some of them have pets that were initially an issue that we’ve gotten resolved,” he said in an interview with CTV Atlantic. “So, I don’t think this is going to turn in any shape or form, into a standoff that we’ve seen in some places.”
Brown said so far, individuals who have been offered different shelter options have accepted them.
He also said shelter capacity is available across the city – something Fredericton Homeless Shelters' executive director, Warren Maddox, confirmed.
Maddox operates a men and women’s shelter and recently opened an emergency overnight shelter for the winter months.
“We’ve been ready. We opened Jan. 4 with our overnight space. But we saw zero people. Jan. 5, zero. Jan. 6, two. So... they’re not coming in, but the capacity is there…It’s really frustrating for us,” he said.
Maddox says the shelters have two rules: no drug-use and no violence.
“Some of them, they're very well are some mental health issues or addiction issues that need to be dealt with. But they’re not being dealt with. They’re not being confronted in terms of dealing with a mental health issue or dealing with an addictions issue. So, it’s not helping anybody in terms of trying to get them to a better path, a more dignified path in life,” he said.
The city has an ongoing “by-name list” – an ever-changing record of those who do not have a home in Fredericton.
As of Thursday, there were 161 people on that list.
Advocates say their needs are complex.
“We have made strides in Fredericton,” said Joan Kingston, chair of the community action group on homelessness in the city. “The City Motel project, now known as the Oak Centre, has 34 individual units where people are living and being supported and that’s a wonderful thing, that’s a very big step in the right direction. But there’s still a gap in Fredericton and indeed in all of Canada, of supportive housing.”
She says that means ongoing clinical support for those battling a mental illness or an addiction, so that they can live on their own.
According to a Fredericton city council presentation during a meeting Thursday, there are currently 126 shelter and transitional housing spaces.
But council projects that will increase to 160 by the end of 2022, with the creation of 12 Neighbours – a tiny home community being built in the city.
That includes:
- 92 shelter spaces
- 24 housing first units
- 44 proposed transitional homes
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Documents reveal Canada praised Haitian sanctioned over alleged gangland connections
A Canadian diplomat and an RCMP officer heaped praise and gratitude on a sanctioned Haitian businessman that Global Affairs accuses of gangland connections, after he allowed a helicopter airlift of Canadian citizens and police at his luxury golf course last month, emails provided by his lawyers suggest.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Minister said 'hundreds' of Canadians might use Gaza visa. More than 7,500 applied.
An immigration lawyer in Toronto says new figures from the federal government show just how 'grudging' Ottawa's efforts have been to rescue Canadians' family members from the war in the Gaza Strip.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.