Group applies for new injunction to halt removal of Ave. K homeless camp

A group that provides legal assistance to low-income residents of Saskatoon says it has applied for a new injunction aiming to prevent the city from cleaning up a homeless camp on Avenue K South.

Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City Inc. (CLASSIC) said its lawyers filed the injunction on Monday at the Court of King’s Bench in an effort to keep the camp in place. The group said it has also filed an application challenging the bylaws that allow the camp to be dismantled.

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“The application alleges that those bylaws violate sections 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protect the right to life, liberty, and security of the person, and equality without discrimination,” the organization said in a statement.

“It asks the Court to declare the bylaws unconstitutional and strike them down.”

Last week, a judge struck down a request for an injunction that would have prevented the camp from being cleared. The application was filed by lawyer Crystal Fafard, who asked for the injunction to remain in place until every resident living in the tent city had access to adequate housing.

Despite the application being struck down, the city has not yet moved to clear the camp, and has so far refused to provide a timeline for when that will happen.

“We know this is frustrating for many in our community, notably the St. Mary’s school families and staff who have been asking for officials to take action for the past year,” the city said in a statement issued two weeks ago.

The legal assistance group said it has also filed affidavits from “several encampment residents” describing their efforts to obtain housing in the city and the barriers they face, including poverty, mental health issues, addiction and struggles to obtain references from landlords.

“Several also describe difficulties securing rental housing while receiving income assistance,” the organization said.

According to CLASSIC, the camp provides “a sense of community, safety, and stability as they seek longer-term housing in advance of the cold winter months,” and clearing it would cause “unnecessary and irreparable harm” to its residents due to a lack of available shelter.

The Saskatoon Fire Department said a number of residents of the camp were unwilling to accept outreach services when they were repeatedly offered.

Melissa Zimmer, president and founder of Bridge City Warmth, said her organization has found housing for four residents of the camp over the past week, and is working to secure housing for three others. But of the roughly 150 residents of the camp, Zimmer said about 25-30 per cent are happy to stay where they are.

“They’ve been on the streets for a while, and they don’t know how they can afford the rent out there. The rent is quite high, as we all know. They don’t know if they’re going to be able to be successful in housing (or) get the supports that they need,” Zimmer said.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Marija Robinson and Libby Gray