City of Hamilton Encampment Response

At the January 15, 2025, General Issues Committee meeting the 2023 Encampment Protocol was rescinded effective March 6, 2025. On March 6, staff transitioned from the rescinded Encampment Protocol to enforcement of the City of Hamilton Parks By-law No. 01-219, which prohibits camping in City parks. 

To report the presence of an encampment in a City park, contact the Coordinated Encampment Response Team at [email protected] or call 905-546-2782 Option 1. Monitored Monday to Friday during regular business hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm). A file will be entered for investigation as appropriate. 

Report immediate threats to the safety and well-being of any community member, including loss of consciousness, frostbite, heat stroke, substance poisoning, or harassment by calling 9-1-1.

Encampments are locations where one or more people live in an unsheltered area setup either on private or public property. Encampments may appear as a single tent, or a group of tents.

The City of Hamilton remains committed to ensuring that people experiencing homelessness receive the support they need while at the same time ensuring public spaces remain safe and accessible to all residents.

The City’s Coordinated Encampment Response Team and homeless-serving partners work to engage those residing in encampments and help them transition to safer, more humane, and legal accommodations.

Guiding Principles and Approach

An assessment of the individual health and social needs of those living in an encampment, and the specific location of the encampment informs the individual response. The outreach that occurs will provide supports including but not limited to the following:

• Engagement that treats every individual from a rights-based approach, ensuring dignity and confidentiality is maintained;
• An assessment of health and social needs of individual with consent;
• Immediate work on a personalized housing plan with consent;
• Determine previous (if any) barriers affecting access into the system and attempt to resolve them;
• Informing individuals of the timeline for encampment removal taking into consideration location and individual health and social circumstances;
• Assist with the movement to shelter/housing including but not limited to transportation, financial assistance, and storage of possessions.
• Ensures abandoned belongings and litter are cleared and the site is cleaned.

While outreach staff work to engage encampment residents and secure alternative shelter and housing options and community supports, Municipal Law Enforcement, Hamilton Police Service and Parks staff will continue to monitor these locations and address safety concerns and increase litter clean up during this period until the encampment is cleared.

City of Hamilton Coordinated Encampment Response Team

The City’s Encampment Response Team works with encampment residents to help them transition to safer, more humane, and legal accommodations, support the move with their belongings, and then ensures abandoned belongings are cleared and the site is cleaned.

The Encampment Response Team includes representatives from the City of Hamilton Housing Services Division and Street Outreach Team, Municipal Law Enforcement, Public Works and Hamilton Police Services Social Navigator Program.