Londons homeless encampment strategy facing criticism [Video]

A month after city council placed new restrictions on the location of homeless encampments, the effectiveness of the changes is being questioned by stakeholders in the Old East Village (OEV).

Ellen, who asked not to be identified, lives across the street from the municipal parking lot on Queens Avenue east of Dundas Street.

“In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen more encampments over there,” she told CTV News.

On June 25, city council endorsed an updated Encampment Strategy that extended the minimum setback distances between encampments and sensitive land uses,

Under the new rules, an encampment cannot be within 150 metres of an elementary school or daycare and not within 100 metres of a residential property with a dwelling on it, a playground, pools, spray pads, and sports fields.

In addition, encampments in a list of so-called “no-go zones” will face rapid removal.

That list include 14 core area parks, sidewalks, pathways, and municipal parking lots.

Ellen had expected to see a …