Modular homes are an imperfect solution for neighbourhood

Jun 25, 2023

Based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events.

A view of the Wolfe Street homeless encampment is seen on Thursday May 4 in Peterborough, Ont. - Clifford Skarstedt/Metroland

There are times when city council faces a choice where there is no right option, even if there is a best one.

And city staff and housing advocates say putting a modular home community on the site of the Wolfe Street parking lot is the best option. That's where there is currently a village of homeless campers.

Now, "best" doesn't mean it works perfectly for everybody. The people residing in the neighbourhood around that site have endured years of issues.

There's been drug activity, crime, vandalism, thefts, syringes left lying around and repeatedly the people of that neighbourhood have said they don't feel safe anymore.

And on Tuesday, May 24, council heard from six of those residents who said they were unhappy with the current plan.

Doing nothing isn't an option, and the city has torn down tents at the site before, but they just inevitably come back up.

Toronto cracked down hard on homeless encampments in its city parks, and there were protests and clashes with police that ended up becoming very expensive.

A recent Supreme Court decision against Waterloo Region also ruled that an anti-tenting bylaw violated campers Charter rights, saying it would be illegal for the city to evict them if there was no room in the shelter system for them.

Which means Peterborough is likely to face legal and grassroots opposition if they try to tear down tents.

So what's the "best" option when the campers don't want to go and they’re deeply affecting peoples’ lives in the neighbourhood?

City staff's best solution is for modular homes to be put at the site, where it can be monitored. A fence will be erected, and facilities there will hopefully mean less waste creeping into the surrounding community.

The reality is the city needs a shelter system where people are able to stay, and with a lack of places to put it, it went to Wolfe Street.

Now the people who came with that site are attached to it. It's not so easy to move it elsewhere and expect the people will follow.

Some city councillors are pitching to move it outside of town. There will likely be eyes on PATH's project on Lansdowne Street in the former Humane Society property to see if those tiny homes will see use despite their distance from the downtown.

But what is known is that the new residents of Wolfe Street are sticking around, and the city has a limited number of options: they could boot them out with bylaw enforcement and bulldozers, they can try and move them somewhere else, or they can try and make a solution work at that location.

Given what they know, it's unfortunate the "best’ solution they were offered is one that doesn't give much hope to the people continuing to live in that area.

It's also important to remember there's people on both ends of this, and while it's awful what the Wolfe Street residents have had to deal with, there are people who are likely frustrated their best option is to live in a tent.