Bay Coun. Theresa Kavanagh said collecting data on encampments was an important first step. “To just sweep it under the carpet is just not possible and we have to truly understand what’s going on and what we can do about it,” she said. “One of the biggest problems is that we do not have supportive housing that would be the ideal situation for many of these residents.” As of March 1, 2026, there were 664 families (2,212 people) being served through the city’s family transitional
housing system. That represented a 76 per cent increase since January 2023, when 377 families were being served, according to the community services department. Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said the dismantling of a large encampment near the Bayview O-Train station in May pointed to deepening signs of crisis. Cleanup crews discovered about 2,000 discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia along with dozens of propane tanks amid piles of garbage. “The profile of people who tend to choose an encampment over shelter, we know what that
looks like. It’s typically people who have significant trauma, who have experienced trauma in the shelter system. It’s often couples, it’s often people with a pet,” Troster said.
Ottawa, encampments, supportive housing, transitional housing, Theresa Kavanagh, Ariel Troster, Bayview O-Train station, drug paraphernalia, needles, propane tanks
So they’re “collecting data” instead of dealing with it, cool.
I saw something about 2,000 needles near the O-Train station and like… how is that even happening. If they don’t have supportive housing, then what exactly are they counting, you know?
Data won’t stop a propane explosion or whatever, but ok. Also didn’t they already sweep that encampment before? Feels like the same story every year, people keep ending up there. 664 families sounds made up though, like where are they getting that number.
Maybe the issue is they keep moving folks around between shelters and “transitional housing” like that’s the same as supportive housing. I don’t even know the difference tbh. But if they’re finding needles and propane tanks, that’s not “understanding what’s going on,” that’s just the city admitting it failed again.