Fewer reports of homeless sleeping in bus shacks, but problem persists

Fewer reports of homeless sleeping in bus shacks, but problem persists

Winnipeg Transit is receiving fewer reports of homeless people sleeping inside bus shacks, but outreach workers and city staff who remove human waste and needles from the shelters say more work is needed.

The number of calls to the Winnipeg Transit Control Centre about people sleeping in the heated, partially enclosed shelters fell to its lowest level in years each month so far in 2023, except January (which was slightly higher than January 2022), according to data obtained by the Free Press.

The total number of calls dropped from 4,761 in 2021 to 2,733 the following year. And the number this year was 1,451 at the end of September.

The head of one outreach organization said she has noticed an improvement, but the matter still keeps her staff busy.

“It is true that there are far less people in transit shelters this year than in prior years.… (But we’re still) making contact with people in transit shelters on the daily or several times a day,” said Marion Willis, executive director of St. Boniface Street Links.

While speaking with the Free Press Wednesday, Street Links received a report of someone taking shelter in a St. Mary’s Road bus shelter.

However, Willis said there has been a significant decline in those calls, something she largely credits to “proactive work” by Winnipeg Transit and outreach workers to connect homeless people with alternatives, along with the end of COVID-19 restrictions.

“I think that what we’re doing is paying off… I think it’s (also) a sign that we’re recovering somewhat from the pandemic. In the two years of the pandemic, it really increased the number of people that were staying in transit shelters.… We just saw so many people spiral down into addiction and homelessness because there were no services to access,” she said.

Those agencies have largely resumed operations and Transit staff are helping direct people to support services.

“It is true that there are far less people in transit shelters this year than in prior years.… (But we’re still) making contact with people in transit shelters on the daily or several times a day.”–Marion Willis, executive director of St. Boniface Street Links

“It’s not about telling people in a harsh way that they can’t be there. It’s about explaining to individuals that this transit shelter is probably not the best way to live; ‘How about we connect you to income supports if you don’t have it, and how about we find you some housing?’” said Willis.

A request to interview a Winnipeg Transit official on the matter was declined Wednesday.

In an email, Transit spokeswoman Megan Benedictson said staff assess the circumstances of people staying in bus shacks and are able to provide information about emergency shelters.

“Bus operators who observe someone sleeping in our shelters are instructed to notify our control centre, so inspectors and/or emergency personnel can respond,” she said.

Member of the public who call 311 about an emergency involving someone sleeping in a bus shelter will be directed to call 911. Those calls may not be reported to the Transit control centre, she noted.

The head of the union that represents bus drivers said the acknowledged the improved data but said Transit staff are still coping with extensive cleanups.

“They’re cleaning up garbage, even needles, bodily fluids, (feces), just about everything that you can think of,” said Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

Scott said the numbers could rise again as the temperatures falls.

Mayor Scott Gillingham credited the improving situation to city investments in safe spaces and extreme-weather responses, as well as the end of the pandemic.

“It’s probably a combination of things… however, there are still people using bus shelters (this way) and that’s really no place for people to be living…. They need assistance, so I want to see these numbers continue to go down,” said Gillingham. ]

“We’re doing a lot of good work with all the agencies who are helping… but there’s more work to do.”

The mayor said the city will continue to focus on ensuring more affordable housing and wrap-around support services are available while keeping Transit shelters open for bus riders to use.

“Addressing homelessness is a top priority of mine,” he said.

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