Joint Statement from Mayor Diane Therrien and Warden J. Murray Jones
City of Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien and Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones have issued the following joint statement:
Councils for the City and County of Peterborough have passed parks and facilities by-laws, which include prohibiting camping in City parks and Victoria Park without a permit. While compliance with the by-laws is expected, both the City and County are committed to working with people who are homeless and living in the rough to connect them with shelter and housing.
People who are homeless and living in tents in parks need to engage with Social Services workers to get on the by-name list for housing services – a list that identifies specific housing needs and desires for each person to help connect people with housing.
Social Services can be contacted at 705-748-8830 or in-person at 178 Charlotte St. Outreach workers will also be in Victoria Park from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, starting on August 15, 2019.
There are shelter beds available among the 110 beds in the shelter system. Social Services and community partner agencies, such as Fourcast, help on average 15 people a month who are homeless with getting into housing.
People are strongly encouraged to move indoors through the shelter system and overflow beds.
People who are living in parks but who have a home are asked to immediately remove their tents.
The purpose of the by-laws respecting parks and related facilities is to ensure that parks in the City and County are safe and accessible to all.
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For more information, please contact:
Sheridan Graham
Director, Corporate Projects and Services
Peterborough County
705-743-0380 ext. 2500
Brendan Wedley
Manager of Communication Services
City of Peterborough
705-742-7777 ext. 1636
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