Several homeless encampments cleared out to prepare for BRT construction

BRT construction displaces homeless encampments City crews spent Wednesday clearing out several homeless encampments along the Thames River, displacing several people.

City crews moved into the area of the Thames River shoreline east of Wellington Road Wednesday to clean up debris left from individuals who moved away from what is about to become a construction zone.

“We started those relocation efforts back in January to make sure people could get to a different or safer space before all the heavy machinery started showing up and we started disrupting that space,” said Kevin Dickens, deputy city manager, Social and Health Development.

The construction is part of the bus rapid transit project (BRT) and the widening of Clark’s Bridge to accommodate transit only lanes across Thames River.

Jason McKinnon, who has been encamped at the site for a year, was not happy to be displaced Wednesday.

"Especially in February. We're just lucky that the weather's been nice because it's been for the last few nights. But it's cold enough to get frostbite, that's for sure. That, and I don't want to move again. It's not for me," he said. “This is the second time in a month now I had to move. Some people have had to move six times. It’s pretty rough.’

According to Dickens, some of the displaced used the opportunity to take advantage of indoor programs

“Two of them had relocated to Unity Project and a number of others have relocated to some of the ARK Aid's cold weather beds. So we'll actually have people that are no longer in encampments but actually indoors in bed tonight, which is great news,” said Dickens.

Dickens added those who wanted to remain in an encampment were offered help to move to a safer location.

“Yeah, I got some of the important stuff anyway,” McKinnon said. “And some of them did help me bring some of my stuff over from over here. So it wasn't totally bad. Just none of the bricks or wood.”

The construction is expected to begin by the end of the month or early March, and will continue into next year.