Despite being removed last week, tents belonging to the unhoused have reappeared along a railway line in Peterborough, Ont. The City of Peterborough and Canadian Pacific Railway police had previously removed eight tents near the downtown area.
City councillor Keith Riel mentioned that an agreement allowed the city to assist in relocating people tenting near the city’s modular bridge housing units. However, the tents have resurfaced this week on CP property, frustrating efforts by the city to address homelessness in the community.
The modular housing units had replaced a tent encampment, but some individuals are hindering the support provided to those in the modular housing community. Municipal enforcement will work towards having the tents removed again in coordination with CP Rail.
Since 2019, a bylaw prohibits tenting on municipal properties, a measure taken due to tents pitched at Victoria Park. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness in Peterborough.