Calgary homeless encampments expand throughout inner city areas

City officials say the number of homeless encampments continues to grow in Calgary outside of the downtown core.

The city confirms one of them is along Metis Trail and 64 Avenue Northeast.

Inspector with Calgary Community Standards, Susan Wall, says officials don’t know exactly why, but ever since the pandemic there’s been a growing trend of encampments set up away from downtown.

She says prior to the pandemic, camps could be typically found downtown but now they are finding them spread out into other areas.

Wall says the Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership (DOAP) team with the Alpha House Society is working with people there.

She says it’s important to remember that they are human beings

Read More:

• Calgary renters struggle as prices, demand rise

• Calgary Councillor wants turnstiles at CTrain stations, critics question effectiveness

• Calgary’s fewer publicly available restrooms reflect lack of inclusion

Blaine Thoroson lives in the area and drives by the encampment daily.

“Nudity, people urinating everywhere, garbage, theft, panhandling,” said Thoroson when describing the scene during his commute.

Wall adds overall encampments have increased year-over-year for a number of reasons.

“It can be a lack of support, a lack of resourcing, a lack of housing but there are a number of other reasons as well,” said Wall.

She adds Calgary needs more shelters in the city, to get people off the streets.

–With files from Tiffany Goodwein