Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG

HARES (formerly known as Treaty 6 Outreach) is a mutual aid collective operating in ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᕀ ᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ | Amiskwaciy

[Nicole Santa Cruz @nicolesantacruz]

This year, @ProPublica has been looking into the impacts of cities increasingly removing or “sweeping” encampments. We spoke with 135 people who had experienced sweeps. We also distributed notecards so people could write about it in their own words. 🧵

[Jim Gurnett @Jimgurnett]

@kccindytran Unsheltered, in shelters & provisionally sheltered are not tidy boxes- people move daily/hourly between these 3 labels- bottom line is we fail >3000 people WITHOUT REAL HOUSING every day in wealthy #yeg

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

🙃

[The Progress Report @ProgressAlberta]

NEW: Statement from city of Edmonton confirms the violent and chaotic Rowland Road encampment sweep went ahead in -30C weather BECAUSE the Extreme Weather Protocol had been activated. #yegcc

[Jim Gurnett @Jimgurnett]

While we work to honour #HumanRights of those camping, never forget core problem is gov't failure to provide #housing -this message beside tents reminds #homelessness @ECOHH_

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

The constant removals and arbitrary risk increments make setting up a camp that would be safer pointless. Regardless of its content or intention, the policy is: 'if you live in a tent, you can be removed.'

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

The lack of servicing to encampments also makes criteria contradictory, unless we expect camp residents to haul garbage 200m through parkland. There are no public bathrooms that satisfy that criteria. So produce biohazards, or be too close to other residents.

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

As a note for data nerds, how many parts of the river valley are greater than 200m from a residence or business? Where could an encampment even exist under that criteria?

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

Camps can be accelerated for removal for being larger than just 6 people, if they are in the same location as previous encampments, or if they have been present for not even a month in the same location.

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

Camps can be deemed high risk for being far from help, and also for being too close to help.

Camps where occupants are unable to protect themselves from the elements... are accelerated for removal to make them even more vulnerable?

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

The Encampment Risk framework is also deeply flawed beyond the lack of temperature risk. #yegcc

The accessibility or presence of naloxone being used as a justification to steal someone's shelter is perverse. It compounds, not reduces risk to the camp residents.🧵

[Harm Reduction Support (HARES) YEG @HARES_YEG]

Today is one of the coldest days in #yeg's history.

EPS evicted people from their tents into this on Wednesday knowing that it was coming. Functionally the death penalty for camping outdoors.

[chris - sᴉɹɥɔ @yegwxnerdery]

So Blatchford has warmed up to -33.2°C, which would be roughly its 30th coldest High on record.
The airport is still at -38°C, which would blow away its old record.
#yegwx
https://t.co/BdfJFg9Jla

[Coalition for Justice and Human Rights @coalition4jhr]

We believe that the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Police Service are in breach of the interim injunction order granted on Dec. 18 of how and when 8 encampments are to be cleared. Today we brought this to the attention of the Court. 🧵#yeg #yegcc

[Coalition for Justice and Human Rights @coalition4jhr]

The City of Edmonton is modifying its approach to encampments and will now require available shelter space for people in encampments that are >20 structures. This change is a direct result of your solidarity and action – together we will continue to demand more. 🧵 #yeg #yegcc

[Jim Gurnett @Jimgurnett]

Today we witnessed (& offered a little assistance) as 7th camp torn down, on a cold -15 morning. Media have shared many of these scenes in recent days- do not get hardened to them- see the pain they hold #homelessness #HumanRights @ECOHH_

[The Progress Report @ProgressAlberta]

BREAKING: EPS and city of Edmonton dash to complete encampment sweeps as temperatures drop to -24 with the windchill. The encampment at 95 street and 106 Ave is being cleared out today and the final one at 95 st and Rowland Road is supposed to be cleared tomorrow.

[rita @cuteandcanread]

homeless people, like all other people, make logical choices based on available options. If the choice is your shitty poison restaurant or starve, stealing food starts making a lot of sense. If you don’t like their choice, provide better options!

[rita @cuteandcanread]

“service-resistant” homeless people don’t exist, your services are just shitty and ppl rightfully don’t want them

[Edmonton Coalition on Housing & Homelessness @ECOHH_]

With homeless evictions today down along 105 Ave and 96 St. to 97S St. questions remain the same. Where are they suppose to go? How will the homeless stay warm if you have taken & thrown out their belongings? Kinnaird Ravine slated for Jan 5th. #yegcc #HumanRights #Righttohousing

[Ethan Nadelmann @ethannadelmann]

JUST OUT: An impressive study in @JAMAPsych concludes that the #Oregon decrim initiative (and a similar law in #Washington) DID NOT result in an increase in #overdose fatalities. Evidence-based studies were & are crucial to sustaining support for #decrim
https://t.co/YJhfff5jR0