Fencing is now up around private property on Nicol St. which had housed a growing number of the city's homeless population in recent weeks. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

fences up

Latest homeless encampment closed in downtown Nanaimo

Nov 3, 2021 | 12:57 PM

NANAIMO — For the third time this year, fencing now surrounds what was a growing homeless encampment in a highly visible portion of the city’s downtown.

Barriers were erected around private property on Nicol St. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, directly south of the Firehouse Grill building with the City confirming the site was cleared out the day prior.

In the range of 20 to 30 people were gathered at the site in recent days, which grew since the City fenced off nearby Pioneer Square Park in August due to social disorder concerns.

The now-closed Nicol St. encampment was located next door to the Rise Bridge Project, which advocates for a range of marginalized community members, including the street entrenched.

Executive director Jovan Johnson is alarmed at the trend of constantly displacing homeless populations with fencing.

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“I think the real crisis is that we’re putting more energy into shutting these people out of our communities than supporting these people in our community,” Johnson told NanaimoNewsNOW.

In the range of 20 to 30 people had been permanently based at a private lot on Nicol st. (Submitted photo)

Johnson expanded on the need to advance harm reduction strategies and establish the necessary treatment beds, shelter spaces and mental health supports.

“Regardless of where you sit and where your opinions and values are, I think it’s a great opportunity for us all to stay aware…and see these individuals as humans and humans in need.”

Tents were seen being setup in a parking lot at the corner of Victoria Rd. and Cavan St. following eviction from the Nicol St. site. Those campers had moved on as of Wednesday morning.

The City’s manager of bylaw services Dave LaBerge said owners of the private property initiated the process to have the occupiers removed and a fence erected.

He said people residing at the encampment were informed of other suitable locations where they could reside overnight outdoors or in local shelters.

“I know that the shelters aren’t a one fits all stop, but there are other options that can be explored there as well.”

LaBerge said the City received multiple complaints about the encampment.

“We were getting quite a few complaints about citizens who were using the sidewalk on both on Victoria Rd. and Nicol St. saying ‘We don’t feel safe, there’s people using drugs and blocking the road and we feel unsafe.'”

The City’s closure of Pioneer Square Park in late August followed similar action at Italian Square Park, with fencing erected around it in March.

Fencing off both parks were approached by the City as temporary measures.

LaBerge said while fencing off properties is not ideal, it is used to mitigate growing numbers of people from taking over spaces before an encampment can reach an unmanageable size.

A large encampment on Wesley St. was also closed down in early December 2020 after concerns increased over fire risks to occupants and the surrounding buildings.

A small fire broke out on Dec. 3 with the laneway shut down a day later.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes