Friday 24 January 2020

Eviction notice served to Fredericton's tent city residents

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-tent-city-eviction-1.5437699




Eviction notice served to Fredericton's tent city residents

Notice from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure



Jordan Gill · CBC News · Posted: Jan 23, 2020 3:51 PM AT



Residents of Fredericton's tent city are being evicted from the site behind Old Government House. (Jordan Gill/CBC)


An eviction notice pinned on the tents of homeless people living behind the lieutenant-governor's home in Fredericton gave the residents until the end of the day Thursday to move out.

Residents in the so-called tent city along the walking trail between the St. John River and Government House were served an eviction notice signed by John Logan, the acting deputy minister of transportation and infrastructure.

"The tents located on this property have become a hazard to public safety," said Logan.


But Dennis Robertson, who stayed in his tent during recent the recent bitter nights, had one simple question for the province: why now?



Tent city resident Dennis Robertson doesn't want to move. (Jordan Gill/CBC)


"You had a whole year to hand this out, or even start the eviction," said Robertson.

"Why kick us while we're down?"

An emailed statement from the Department of Social Development said the choice to evict the residents from the tent city was made for their own safety.



A resident poses with Charles, the tent city resident cat. (Jordan Gill/CBC)


"There is no heat or running water available at this site and given the extreme cold in recent days, we are encouraging these individuals to take advantage of the beds available at one of the three shelters in the city," said the department.

Warren Maddox, the executive director of Fredericton's Homeless Shelters, said both the men's and women's shelters have capacity.


Joan Kingston, chair of the city's Community Action Group on Homelessness, said the out-of-the-cold shelter can house 25 people at once, but 40 different individuals have used the shelter at various times.

The tents sprang up last May after a winter shelter closed. It has carried on through this winter, despite the creation of an emergency shelter again this year.

At least nine residents spent Thursday morning packing their belongings into totes provided for them.



Residents in Fredericton's tent city were served an eviction notice Thursday due to public safety concerns from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. 0:47


The Social Development Department said it has "offered to provide storage space to the individuals who had been living in the tents to store their belongings until more permanent accommodations can be found."

Robertson said he has his own storage locker, but other residents aren't so lucky and are concerned they will never see their belongings again if they are given to the province.

Residents gave different reasons for why they chose the tent city over shelters, but many, including Robertson, said the vibe of the out-of-the-cold shelter has changed from last year.


The tents sprang up last May after the out-of-the-cold shelter closed. (Jordan Gill/CBC)



"There's been a little bit of favouritism, a lot more stealing, a lot more disrespect," said Robertson.

Robertson said he plans on trying to set up a tent in another location and said he'll try to help as many people as he can.

"They're like family, better family than my own family," said Robertson.

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story said incorrectly that the men's and women's shelters were at capacity. In fact, Fredericton Homeless Shelters said it has the capacity to take in more people.
    Jan 23, 2020 4:27 PM AT

About the Author


Jordan Gill
Reporter
Jordan Gill is a CBC reporter based out of Fredericton. He can be reached at jordan.gill@cbc.ca.









64 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.






David Amos
Methinks the Queen's Lt Governor, all the politicians and most of the cops and lawyers should not deny that that knew why I was homeless when I ran against Andy Scott 15 years ago in Fat Fred City for its seat in the 39th Parliament. 10 years after the "Powers That Be" in NB certainly could not deny that I was still homeless when I filed a lawsuit against the Queen in Federal Court in Fat Fred City while running in the the election of the 42nd Parliament. Lets just say for me to claim that I know a lot about homelessness and the actions of questionable politicians and their minions in New Brunswick is no understatement N'esy Pas?














David Amos 
Methinks folks should be relieved to know that Colonel John B.D. Logan Q.C. is still on the job overseeing the province as the Deputy Attorney General. The other dude with the same name who signed the eviction is just Billy Oliver's acting Deputy Minister until the next election because everybody in the Highway Department is scared of minister Wetmore and his hot headed assistant N'esy Pas?


Johnny Horton 
Reply to @David Amos:
He’ll get back in, so not like it matters.

Next election is going to give the same results as the last one. North will vote liberal. South will vote pc, and s handful of others will win, to stop either the liberal or pc from a majority,
Marc Martin  
Reply to @Johnny Horton: Moncton and Fredericton are considerate North now ?
























John Haigh
Content disabled  
Wait until spring, then use fire.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @John Haigh: If I were them I would call the cops on you 
















Matt Steele
It is January , probably the coldest month of the year in N.B. ; can the govt. not wait until Spring before they start uprooting these folks from their homes 


David Amos 
Reply to @Matt Steele: Methinks much to Higgy's chagrin many folks would agree that this is pure provincial politicking plain and simple because they are camped on Crown land N'esy Pas?
Graham McCormack 
Reply to @Matt Steele: The fact that they are living outside during the coldest part of the year is the reason for trying to get them into the shelters.




















Kelly Sherrard
It is sad that this province has "tent cities". It reflects on the gov'ts failure to ensure proper and adequate low income housing for those who can't afford a room/apartment or who suffer from mental illness. These individuals have no place to go, especially in the winter, and end up admitted into hospitals for frost bite which is sad. But then, if they don't have a fixed address and get a voter card, to the government, they don't exist.


Johnny Horton
Reply to @kelly sherrard:
Why is thst governments job?
Marc Martin 
Reply to @kelly sherrard: Reply to @kelly sherrard: *who suffer from mental illness. * Tottaly agree these people should be detain in facilities like we have in Campbellton. You know what? we all struggle to get proper housing its life its not the governments job to provide home for everyone, the solution for them is too move into a rural place were rent is a lot lower.
David Amos 
Reply to @kelly sherrard: Methinks its rather comical that you and I are being argued by spin doctors for the liberals and the conservatives N'esy Pas?
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Marc Martin: Once again, just reiterating how obviously well thought-out and unbiased your "detain the ill and move the homeless out of sight" solution is. Very thorough. Well done sir.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Methinks that whereas he works for the government he knows the last thing the spin doctor needs to be is thorough because the Crown will cover for him no matter what N'esy Pas?
























Justin Gunther
I've stayed at the Men's shelter downtown near tent city and Victoria Health. I had a ludicrous experience there including but not limited to theft, threats and being kicked out and I still don't even know why it happened. But I do know I watched many people of the shelter break shelter rules over and over again and they didn't get kicked out.

There's an ingrained culture of gaslighting and favoritism there and it is highly disturbing.



Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: And do they still make you sign that stupid form stating you must pay... what was it... like $200/month to stay there? They charge you a rent and call it a shelter. They don't always collect it, but you still have to sign the form, and they'll hold it over your head if one of the people there they like has a problem with you. The system is completely messed.
Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Could you imagine collective $430 in welfare and giving half of it to the shelter? How do you get on your feet again? Most people don't know how things really go down there because media asks the wrong questions or ignores really substantial things.

If you listened to media everyone who isn't in shelter is on hard drugs all the time. Do a better job of telling the real stories and stop parroting the same tired cliches.
Johnny Horton 
Reply to @Justin Gunther:
The shelter should be staffed by civil servings, who work there one week s year. With usher rotation, including managers, there would be no favouritism. Same should apply for food banks,

David Amos
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Well put sir
Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Johnny Horton: This would be better if not ideal, but we need more volunteers and the political will to set up shelters up without endless bureaucracy getting in the way.

Do you hear that churches? We need more volunteers.
Justin Gunther 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: One last thought. I don't know how things work at the women's shelter, but at the men's shelter get the women out of there. I'm not saying do that at the shelters that accommodate both genders, just the men's shelter. It's demeaning enough being a homeless man without being overseen by a woman. It doesn't make any sense. Could you imagine having a bunch of male staff walking around where a bunch of vulnerable women are sleeping. It is demeaning and nonsensical, get them out of there.
Marc Martin  
Reply to @Justin Gunther: So now you want to control the gender of volunteers ?






















Wally Manza
leave them alone.


David Amos 
Reply to @Wally Manza: I agree













Toby Tolly
 interesting that i met these 2 today....
very clear spoken and polite



David Amos
Reply to @Toby Tolly: Why shouldn't they be?

























Ben Haroldson
How is a tent a hazard?


Johnny Horton 
Reply to @Ben Haroldson:
Society has dictated for the good of a person they must live in certain conditions, we are anything but a free society.
We had more freedom in 1700 than our supposedly enlightened 2020.
David Amos
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Try climbing a big mountain without one
















Yvon Landry
Where are going to go ? The City of Ottawa will not take them. They even try to ride themselves of their homeless a few year ago. Ask them who it worked.


Yvon Landry 
Reply to @Yvon Landry: How it ended.
David Amos
Reply to @Yvon Landry: Methinks there are a lot of fancy "Non Profit" people making a fine living off the homeless in Fat Fred City N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin 
Reply to @David Amos: Who is that?





















Steve Ryan
The city is smart to jump on this problem now, though they should have done it sooner. They also need their police and by-laws officers to enact a "move along" policy for any tents or similar structures being erected within city limits.
For those not aware of what these tent cities can become, Google "Oppenheimer Park". This is what happens when a city waffles on issues.



Johnny Horton
Reply to @Steve Ryan:
So? People should have the right to live as they wish. Just because you don’t like how they live, or what the conditions are or how it looks, shouldn’t give you the right to tell others how to live.

Yes most probably would like to live in better circumstances, but they srent really being given Thst, they are just being made to move and disperse.
Steve Ryan 
Reply to @Johnny Horton:
People do not have a right to live where ever and however they want. That is why we have zoning laws and standards for structures.
Are you aware of Oppenheimer Park, and the consequences of ignoring tent cites?
David Amos 
Reply to @Steve Ryan: Methinks I should be grateful that I do not have to spend any of my time in your company obviously because I find your opinion rather irritating N'esy Pas?
Graham McCormack
Reply to @Steve Ryan: The City didn't do this, the Province did.  
 
Justin Gunther
Reply to @Steve Ryan: How's about you and all your homeowner friends stop turning your rental properties in Airbnbs? You want to talk about a city waffling on issues? How about the real-time disaster that is unfolding that will result in more people on the streets whether you like it or not. 

It looks like we're getting zero affordable housing in the future but more and more people still? What do you think is going to happen? How exactly is the city "waffling" again? Is it "waffling" by not shuffling people around who have nowhere to go, or is it waffling by creating a rampant, out of control homelessness problem?
Marc Martin 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: Move to a rural place to get lower rent stop making excuses.
David Amos 
Reply to @Graham McCormack: True
Justin Gunthe 
Reply to @Marc Martin: What a thoroughly, well thought-out solution that isn't rife with logical holes and full of your own self-serving bias. Have a nice day.
Marc Martin 
Reply to @Justin Gunther: And yours *How's about you and all your homeowner friends stop turning your rental properties in Airbnbs? * is a lot better ? Whats next your gonna dictate where people spend their income ?
Steve Ryan 
Reply to @Justin Gunther:
Where did you dig up Airbnb?
For your information I rent out a basement suite, to a credible tenant.
























SarahRose Werner
I'm impressed with the organization of the tent city - it even has a resident Vermin Control Expert!


David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks everybody seemed Happy Happy Happy that the vermin were under control N'esy Pas?
Marc Martin 
Reply to @David Amos: They forgot 1 vermin I see.....

























Albert Wade
They should be given free overnight accommodation on a bus heading to another province.


Jeff Leblanc
Reply to @Albert Wade: and you can join them. Nobody would miss you.
Jeff Dwyer
Reply to @Albert Wade: Why another province? You think they moved from another province just to be homeless in Fredericton?

A very long time ago, I spent some considerable time lost and homeless. Thanks to compassionate friends I survived, and put it all behind me. Many homeless and destitute people don't have that. These people need a chance to build a life.

Saying that, they HAVE been given beds in shelters, so I see no reason why they would not take advantage of that, as long as they can keep their meager belongings somehow.
David Amos
Reply to @Albert Wade: Oh My My What harm have they done you by pitching a tent on Crown land in lieu of staying under a roof overnight with folks they don't trust?
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Amos: Maybe we should tell them you are open to have everyone pitch a tent on your property ? 
David Amos
Reply to @Marc Martin: Come on down I would love to meet you in person on my turf
Marc Martin
Reply to @David Amos: Give me your address ill send every homeless to your home that your offering free space for their tents.
David Amos 
Reply to @Marc Martin: Methinks you know as well as I what my address is if not your boss and the RCMP certainly do N'esy Pas?
 



















David Peters
"...homeless people living behind the lieutenant-governor's home in Fredericton gave the residents until the end of the day Thursday to move out."

Thought they were going to be offered a place in the lieutenant-governor's palace.



Michael Levesque 
Reply to @David Peters: NB Taxpayers send lieutenant governor hundreds of thousands to keep the lights so 3 or 4 people can live the good life. Shame.


David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @michael levesque: Methinks if they were indigenous folks camped on Crown land Minister Billy Oliver and his acting deputy would never dare to give them the bum's rush N'esy Pas? 


David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO 
David Amos
Reply to @michael levesque: Go Figure 
 


David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @michael levesque: Methinks although the Fat Fred City Finest are hired as "Aide de Campe"  it should involve attacking other people's camps. The Feds should agree that its the RCMP's mandate to guard the Lt Governor and her palace Trudeau appointed her not Higgy or the Mayor of Fat Fred City.  Hence the RCMP should be the ones tearing down their fellow citizen's camps on Crown land where the Queen's vice regal representative especially in light of the fact that New Brunswick does even have a constitution yet Nesy Pas?


















Chris Waddell
Stay tuned for an excellent video from Charles Leblanc (no, I'm not being sarcastic!)


David Amos
Reply to @Chris Waddell: Methinks that is the reason nobody is laughing N'esy Pas?
Graham McCormack  
Reply to @Chris Waddell: There is nothing excellent from him.
David Amos
Reply to @Graham McCormack: Methinks some folks must have watched what Chucky has been uploading about this issue Trust that his buddies such as Higgy and Roger Brown know why I save most of Chucky's videos even though as you say they far from excellent N'esy Pas?





https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/crews-dismantle-fredericton-tent-city-1.5439392



Crews dismantle Fredericton tent city

'It’s like your house burns down ... but you gotta move on,' says tent city resident

 

Jordan Gill · CBC News · Posted: Jan 24, 2020 2:34 PM AT




Crews started demolishing the remnants of Fredericton's tent city around noon Friday. (Jordan Gill/CBC)


Crews dismantled a tent city on Friday that has stood behind Old Government House in Fredericton since last summer.

Residents say police arrived to start the eviction at around 8 a.m.

At first, crews in white garb, who appeared to be working out of a Servicemaster truck, began cutting the tents and removing the contents.

"Servicemaster was cleaning really super, super fast," said tent city resident Dennis Robertson.
"We didn't have much time."

Then, around noon, a front end loader started clearing the property by the St. John River.

Residents at the tent city received an eviction notice from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure earlier this week.



Crews dismantled Fredericton's tent city by cutting the tents down with knives. A bulldozer arrived later. 0:46


A statement from the Department of Social Development, which is assisting with the eviction, said the residents are being moved out over concerns for their own safety.

"There is no heat nor running water available at this site and given the extreme cold in recent days, we are encouraging these individuals to take advantage of the beds available at one of the three shelters in the city.," said the department.


Police and Servicemaster crews showed up around 8 a.m. Friday to start the eviction process. (Jordan Gill/CBC)


Robertson was upset as he witnessed the demolition of the place he had called home since last year.
"It's like your house burns down," said Robertson, "But you gotta move on."

On Thursday, both the men's and women's shelters reported having beds available, while the out-of-the-cold shelter has room for 25 people on a first-come, first-served basis.
  

Robertson, who has lived on the street on and off for 20 years, was upset as he witnessed the demolition of the place he called home since last year. (Jordan Gill/CBC)


Robertson said he plans to start another camp and said people don't realize that shelters are not a great option for some people.

"I'm not going in the shelters," said Robertson.

Robertson suggested the people who were responsible for the eviction should try to live in a shelter for a few weeks.

He said the shelter has too many rules and that they aren't enforced equally.

Robertson admits there were some "shady" people who lived in the tent city, but said many became friends with him.



About the Author

Jordan Gill
Reporter
Jordan Gill is a CBC reporter based out of Fredericton. He can be reached at jordan.gill@cbc.ca.





 

25 Comments






SarahRose Werner
Is Charles the cat okay?






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