Encampment Response
Addressing homelessness, including encampments, is a complex social issue. It requires all levels of government, community agencies and other stakeholders to work together to provide public, social and health-related supports. This is one of the priorities of the Mayor's Social Well-Being Task Force.
| What is an encampment? |
| The term "encampment" is used to refer to an outdoor area where an individual or a group of people experiencing homelessness stay together, often in tents or other temporary structures. |
Coordinated Encampment Response
The City of Woodstock is 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.
Our approach to helping individuals in encampments focuses on:
- The safety of those living in encampments
- Working with partners to provide essential supports, focusing on health and wellbeing
- Building trusting relationships to support the transition to indoor settings
- Providing access to safer, indoor spaces including shelter and housing
We have established a coordinated encampment response team to track and monitor the locations of encampments in Woodstock. The team includes representatives from:
- Oxford County Community Health Centre
- CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
- Operation Sharing
- Oxford County Human Services
- City of Woodstock bylaw, fire prevention, parks and waste management departments
The response team visits known encampments regularly to offer sanitation and safety supplies as well as connections to resources and support services.
Encampment Clean Ups
Encampments on public property are only cleared once an encampment has been vacated and people living there have been offered safer, inside space and provided with notice and time to go through belongings.
