Service depot needs to go after 'litany of issues' in Watson Street Park, councillor says

Some London politicians say they want to remove a depot offering basic necessities from a southeast park as soon as possible after a suspicious fire at a homeless encampment displaced three people over the weekend. 

At city hall on Monday, Ward 1 Coun. Hadleigh McAlister said the fire was the latest in a "litany of issues" at Watson Street Park, which has for years been the site of numerous makeshift shelters for a concentration of London's homeless population.

There were 39 people and 19 pets sleeping there Sunday night, when firefighters were called to put out a blaze by the Thames River exacerbated by exploding propane tanks. 

"We've done our best to manage it, but this is cumulatively a problem that has kind of come to a head and it does need addressing," McAlister said. "Serious safety concerns have been raised on many occasions and unfortunately have not been acted upon." 

McAlister urged councillors to direct city staff to assist with relocating those living in the park and connect them with shelter options, where possible. 

He also requested staff shut down the park's homeless service depot, which provides basic necessities to park inhabitants, and quickly shift to a previously-approved mobile service depot model initially set to launch in May.  

"From what I have heard and seen, a lot of these issues stem from the depot operations themselves," said McAlister. "My intention is not to block people from being able to encamp. This is a recognition that the concentration and providing of services through the depot model has become problematic, and that is where I am having the issue." 

While the motion ultimately passed, councillors raised concerns over where to send those who had come to rely on the location.

"In this situation, if we don't have the alternate locations, I feel like we will be moving certain concentrations to other areas and I just don't want to see that," said Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira."

The three displaced people have since been relocated, said Kevin Dickins, deputy city manager for social and health development. The committee's majority agreed it would be best to next direct staff to focus their energies on connecting the remaining 36 with any available supports. 

Police continue to investigate the cause of Sunday's fire. The motion goes to full council for a final vote on April 22.