Number of homeless in encampments in Sudbury has more than doubled in a year

The City of Greater Sudbury says the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city is going up.

It says as of July 23, about 200 people were living in encampments across 49 locations.

Last year at this time, there were 77 people living in 44 locations.

In a news release, the city said when an encampment is located on city property, municipal bylaw officerswill connect the individuals with services and serve notice that they are not permitted to be camped on city property.

It says the length of time it takes to remove an encampment may be determined by the availability of short-term housing options, such as supportive housing and available shelter space.

The city says it also funds the community outreach team, which provides 16 hours of services per day, seven days per week. Once an encampment is removed, the area is cleaned.

The news release says the city can't end homelessness on its own, but says it is committed to taking a leading role in addressing the situation.

It adds that its plan to end homelessness by 2030 outlines recommendations to make homelessness a rare, brief and non-recurring issue, but it says that strategy will require investments from all levels of government.

Ray Landry, a co-ordinatorwith Sudbury's Homelessness Network,says there are many reasons for the increase, but one is that people are being forced out of housing and have nowhere to go.

"With the cost of rent being completely unattainable for those on social assistance for example, or on fixed incomes, we are seeing more and more persons who were living in apartments for decades, with very low rents compared to today's levels...being forced out of their rents because of new ownership, or some renovictions," he said.

Landry says he feels the city and its partners are doing the best they can to battle homelessness. But he addsthey need help from the federal government to get more affordable housing built.

He says he's encouraged by two projects that will provide more affordable housinga development on Pearl Street that will have 38 apartments and the Lorraine Street Affordable Housing Project, which will have 40 units.

Those projects are expected to be ready in 2025.