Housing, Homelessness and Encampments

We ask residents to call 211 to connect with Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO). Trained outreach workers actively engage with individuals experiencing homelessness to promote, connect, and coordinate access to a range of supports available across Niagara's Homeless-Serving System, including emergency shelter, housing and support services.

The process is simple:

1. Call 211
2. Ask to be directed to Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO)
3. 211 will transfer your call to a voicemail box that is immediately dispatched to the NASO team to coordinate and action appropriately. Messages can be left 24 hours a day, seven days a week
4. Leave a Voicemail with the following details
• Reason for calling (i.e. I’m calling to report an encampment or someone living unsheltered)
• Location of individuals (including address, intersection and landmarks)
• Description of individuals (if available)
• General concerns
• A name and number that you can be reached at incase NASO has more questions

Trained Outreach workers from NASO attend the encampment site and respond directly to an individual’s unique needs by bringing coordinated services from across the Homeless-Serving System to the individual. Outreach workers help them transition to safer and appropriate accommodations.

An encampment site is only scheduled to be cleaned once everyone at that location has been assessed; offered safe and appropriate indoor space, when available; and notice has been provided to give people time to collect their belongings.

Regardless of the crime, it is important to report any illegal activity to NRPS. This assists in identifying areas requiring police services and aids in investigating ongoing / repeat crime.

It is important to note that not all individuals living unsheltered commit crimes or are addicted to substances. 

If you witness propane tanks at an encampment site, please call 905.684.4311 to have the St. Catharines Fire Services Department attend. If there is a fire where there is immediate danger or threat to safety, please call 911.

Many municipalities have even been legally challenged in courts to not remove encampments on public property without ensuring their human rights to shelter and unique needs are being met.
Court rulings such as the Waterloo Encampment Decision - Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (omssa.com) have made it difficult for the City to remove encampments within parks and public property.

City staff work closely with NASO, the Niagara Region and other community partners to ensure the unique needs of each individual living unsheltered are being evaluated. No situation or individual are the same. Some individuals are more receptive to services than others and, under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, individuals have the right to refuse services.

Time and patience are required to:

• Build relationships and trust between individuals living rough and outreach workers
• Find a proper shelter or housing solution that meets the needs of individuals (i.e. youth, women, families, addiction services) Note: Shelter spaces are typically limited or full.
• Notify individuals that cleanup efforts will be taking place

Additionally, not all encampments are on City property. Some encampments are on private property such as Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Ministry of Transportation (MTO) or vacant land which requires coordination with landowners. Private landowners must arrange for removal and cleanup of encampments on their property. 

NASO is an evidence-based, housing-focused program within the Niagara Region which:

• Engages with people living in the rough to create pathways into housing 
• Provides standardized intake, triage and assessment to measure a person's vulnerability and help to identify appropriate housing resources
• Minimizes the harmful effects of living unsheltered while working towards long-term housing solutions
• Delivers case coordination along with government and non-profit organizations to support those who may be reluctant to use traditional services
• Provides an intensive and coordinated team approach to identify and work towards personal goals

Below is a summary of some the steps the City has taken to support the unsheltered population:

• City staff meet weekly with community partners such as NRPS, Positive Living, Niagara Region and NASO to assess social issues and needs of individuals living rough. 
• Since 2020, the City has been partnering with Niagara Region through Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO) to fund 3 trained outreach workers. Outreach workers actively engage with individuals experiencing homelessness to promote, connect, and coordinate access to a range of supports available across Niagara's Homeless-Serving System, including emergency shelter, housing and support services.  In 2023, NASO housed 69 individuals in St. Catharines (149 across Niagara) which otherwise would be on the streets.
• In 2023, Council approved 29 Riordon Street as the location for a year-round, 24/7, housing-focused, emergency homeless shelter (adding unit capacity and replacing seasonal shelter offerings). More information about the Regionally operated shelter can be found at Temporary Housing Shelter at 29 Riordon St. in St. Catharines - Niagara Region, Ontario. Contact Niagara Region directly with questions and concerns about the Riordon Lot Shelter at homelessness@niagararegion.ca.
• The City, Niagara Region, and Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) worked in partnership to create a plan to turn the City’s old recreation building at 320 Geneva St, into 80 units of supportive and affordable housing. Residents will have their own room, kitchenette, shower, easy access to medical care and various other supports.
• In 2023, the City hired a Community Outreach Coordinator to serve as the primary liaison for social service partners in the Niagara Region. This role involves linking individuals living rough with appropriate services and coordinates encampment site support through a process that recognizes previous legal court rulings, provides options for individuals to shelter, is mindful of the health and safety of those within and around encampments, and allows sufficient time for individuals to collect belongings. 
• In July 2023, the City held a telephone townhall specifically around the topic of homelessness and creating safe spaces for all in our community. This was an open public event, including outreach to individuals living rough and shelters to ensure participation. The event included the Mayor, Niagara Region homelessness Services, NRPS, NASO and Public Health to answer questions and gather information on how to best address this concerning issue. The recording can be found on the City's website.
• Annually, City officials attend the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) conference where opportunities exist to meet with Ontario Ministers to discuss challenges that municipalities are facing. For the past several years, the City has been advocating to the Provincial Government for more support around affordable housing, addiction and mental health.
• In 2017, the City of St. Catharines began moving forward with a Housing Action Plan. Council received a detailed report with 41 potential policy tools and actions the City can use to support affordable housing. View the City of St. Catharines Housing Action Plan

• The City’s Zoning Bylaw and Official Plan support intensification within the urban boundary, seek a balance in housing tenure and a mix of housing types thereby increasing the supply of affordable housing for low to moderate income households. The Official Plan sets a target of 30% of all new housing units constructed over the long term to consist of affordable housing units. 

• Affordable housing is one of the four pillars of the City’s Community Improvement Plan (2020CIP). Financial incentives are evaluated, in part, based on the percentage of affordable units to be built. Additionally, projects that include a minimum 30 per cent affordable rental dwelling units are eligible for a greater incentive rebate.