Cobourg
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February 8, 2025

Cobourg Special Council Meeting On Homelessness

Nicole Beatty: “It is a county mandate. But this is falling to our shoulders. And that’s unacceptable to me.”

Article and images by Bill Hornbostel

At a special meeting on July 4, 2020, Cobourg Council voted to develop a plan to allow, as an emergency measure, encampments by the homeless in municipal parks and public lands.

Staff submitted a report (link) outlining the current situation with homelessness. The report laid out the current response by Northumberland County, which is the level of government primarily responsible for the provision of subsidized housing, as well as funding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the Green Wood Coalition and Transition House (which provides 22 beds, 6 of which are in a motel, for an estimated 78 homeless individuals). The report also outlined potential solutions and considerations.

The meeting began with ten delegations from members of the public, seven of which were made in person.

Several spoke against allowing encampments and in favour of other solutions. Talking about his own experience with homelessness in Cobourg, Michael Brown said, “Cobourg needs more space in shelters, and providing encampments will not provide a temporary solution to the shelters.” He added, “I personally don’t think these encampments is a great solution temporary or even full time, as they promote different things such as more drug addiction, stealing, overdosing.” He advocated using abandoned buildings and Brookside, before allowing encampments.

Michael Brown

Keith Oliver listed many possible solutions for housing, and said, “If we are going to craft a workable response to the issues of homelessness, encampments, etc, we must involve those who are who participate in these kinds of activities.”

Keith Oliver

Missy McLean and Meghan Sheffield spoke of their experiences helping the homeless. McLean advocated for harm reduction and trauma-informed practice, stating, “People need choice so that they can survive in a way that works for them. That reduces the trauma and indignity they’re experiencing in their circumstances, and so that they can find what feels safe for them.”

Meghan Sheffield

Sheffield tearfully related the story of her neighbour who was evicted after his landlord sold the house. “It grieves me to see my former classmates… living unsheltered and dying in the community where they grew up,” she said. “Without better options, permanent solutions are already happening.”

Written submissions included statements from people currently homeless. They wrote of hopelessness, exhaustion, malnutrition, and being forced to be on the move constantly. “Trust me when I tell you that being homeless is one of the hardest jobs in the world,” wrote Brad Bridges. Virginia (no last name provided), stated, “Packing everything you own up, strapping it to your back while malnourished and exhausted, is the worst feeling I’ve experienced.”

Missy McLean

Following the delegations, Council debated two motions. The first was whether to permit encampments; the motion authorized the preparation of a By-law to allow “sleeping rough” in Municipal parks, maintaining the Nuisance By-Law, directing staff to provide services (for things like security, water, and garbage disposal, and cooking), endorsing the revised Encampment Response Plan, and coordinating with the County’s Homelessness Coordinated Response Team (HCRT).

The first motion was debated extensively, and Councillors asked staff questions to clarify points. Councillor Aaron Burchat asked what buildings could be used; Councillor Emily Chorley asked that Council receive regular reports on progress on the issue; Councillor Nicole Beatty asked about liability issues; and Councillor Adam Bureau asked about financial and other impacts on the police and fire departments. In the end, the first motion passed unanimously.

Deputy Mayor Suzanne Séguin

The second motion was amended from the original submission; it called on the County and other service providers to create an immediate solution to the supply of indoor housing, directed that a delegation from Council and staff be made to the County Community Social Services Standing Committee on July 6 and the next County Council meeting on July 20, and directed staff to engage with Infrastructure Ontario and MPP David Piccini to repurpose, refurbish, or rebuild part of the Brookside site for immediate housing options.

Debate over this motion was also debated extensively, and Deputy Mayor Suzanne Séguin asked Beatty, the motion’s sponsor, “What do you think you will accomplish by having three other members of Council make a delegation to Northumberland County Council when we have a rep that sits on Northumberland County Council and chairs the Social Services Committee and is privy to a lot of information?”

Nicole Beatty

Beatty replied, “I as a Councillor really do think it’s important that our regional County Council hears from elected officials of municipal members. Their homelessness and housing plan talks about synergy and coordinated access and advocate advocacy and response from all member municipalities.” She added, “It is a county mandate. But this is falling to our shoulders. And that’s unacceptable to me.”

In the end, the second motion passed 6-1, with Séguin voting against.

For the agenda, minutes, and full video of the Council session, visit Special Council – July 04, 2022 (escribemeetings.com).

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