agreement reached

September 30, 2020

Keeping Six, HAMSMaRT, and our co-applicants have reached an agreement with the City of Hamilton. We believe this is a better outcome for people in encampments than we likely would have reached in court. Details can be found in our joint statement with the City, and our communique to encampment residents.

By Keeping Six

September 30, 2020

Encampments + -

Our encampments page (including delegations to the City of Hamilton’s Emergency and Community Services Committee by K6, HAMSMaRT, and HCLC)

A National Protocol for Homeless Encampments in Canada

Understanding Encampments of People Experiencing Homelessness and Community Responses: Emerging Evidence as of Late 2018

Guardian study of two US cities finds crime is likelier to go down than up in neighborhoods that host city-sanctioned encampments

Ticketing the Pandemic + -

Legal Opinion on Exempting shelter residents under EMCPA and physical distancing by laws

Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC) Intake Form for COVID-19 Offences and Incidents

Policing the Pandemic

COVID-19-Related Resources for People Who Use Drugs + -

We are now grappling with two concurrent crises: the opioid overdose crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. To support each other as we navigate these uncharted waters, we have prepared a handout that addresses the risks of responding to an opioid overdose during the pandemic, and provides guidance on how to respond to one in a way that protects you and the people you care about.

K6 COVID-19 overdose handout (8.5″ x 11″)

K6 COVID-19 overdose postcard (4.25″ x 5.5″)

For those of us who use, during this time of heightened precautions, please consider the tips below, adapted from the Harm Reduction Coalition’s guide to safer drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minimize the need to share your supplies

Don’t share e-cigs/cigarettes, pipes, bongs or joints, or nasal tubes such as straws. If you have to share, practice harm reduction with your supplies (wipe down the mouthpieces with an alcohol swab before sharing or use separate mouthpieces). Put used smoking, snorting, and injecting equipment in a sharps container so people know they are used.

Minimize contact

If you are having sex or doing sex work, COVID-19 can be transmitted by close contact like coughing, kissing, or direct contact with bodily fluids. Try to minimize close contact and ensure condom use.

Prepare your drugs yourself

Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water and prepare your own drugs. Keep your surfaces clean and wipe them down before and after use, with microbial wipes, alcohol (at least 70%), or bleach. If you can’t prepare your own drugs, stay with the person who is. Get them to wash their hands thoroughly, and to clean up before and after.

Plan and prepare for overdose

Emergency services might be stretched in a COVID-19 outbreak, and slow to respond to 911 calls. Load up on naloxone. If you are alone, experiment with using less to lower your risk of OD, and go slowly. If you are using with others, make an OD plan with them and stagger use if possible. Store a breathing mask for use in case rescue breathing is needed.