Kitchener encampment gets 24-hour security, on-site portable washrooms

A large encampment in Kitchener now has 24-hour security after businesses in the area raised concerns about vandalism and their own safety.

The Region of Waterloo also placed portable toilets on the encampment site at the corner of Victoria and Weber streets. 

One person began living in a tent in the vacant lot of regionally owned land in January, but the encampment grew in March. The region told people living there to vacate the area by the end of June. That didn't happen and now the region is going through the courts to evict people. Trial dates have been set for Nov. 7 and 8.

Business owners in the area told CBC News about how they've seen a rise in crime such as break-in attempts and vandalism. One business owner said a fire had been started in front of her shop.

The business owners also reported a rise in rats, mice and insects and said there were times they felt unsafe.

Peter Sweeney, commissioner of community services at the Region of Waterloo, said he had heard the concerns from local businesses.

"In response to ongoing concerns and incidents reported from neighbouring businesses and residents and in order to facilitate the safe provision of portable washrooms at the site, the region will implement security staffing on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis," Sweeney said in a statement emailed to CBC News on Thursday.

The reason portable washrooms were brought on the site was because the "needs of the site at 100 Victoria have changed since the original decision was made in April to provide after-hours washroom access," he said.

"In order to ensure the health and well-being of those on the site and in the surrounding area, portable washrooms were delivered to the site [Thursday] morning," he said.

This means the after-hours access to washrooms at St. John's Kitchen will be discontinued, he added.