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The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada
Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner

@imfgtoronto.bsky.social @uoftcities.bsky.social

imfg.org/research/doc/
The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance No. 73 • 2025 Institute on Municipal Finance and Gover... 1,829 followers 1d • Edited • O New paper: The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada New IMG report identifies homeless encampments as an urgent human rights crisis and highlights how adopting new encampment strategies based on human rights will achieve a more dignified and efficient public outcome. The proliferation of homeless encampments in cities across Canada represents both a housing and a governance crisis. Municipal governments are being called upon to respond to a deeply complex issue within a legal, political, and fiscal environment that often constrains their options. Public discourse frequently frames homeless encampments as threats to public safety rather than the result of systemic failings, and this restrictive context often leads to municipal responses that are punitive and costly. In a new paper for the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG), Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner describe the legislative context of municipal encampment governance in Canada and examine various court decisions related to encampments. The authors discuss how municipalities have traditionally used public space regulations to respond to the crisis, identify barriers to improving encampment strategies, and highlight how rights-based approaches can produce outcomes that are more dignified and efficient than the status quo. https://Inkd.in/gKbk-AeH #homelessness #encampments #unhoused #municipalities #localgovernment #localgov #cities #charter #humanrights
November 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
7/ Homeless encampments are a human rights crisis, and an opportunity for municipalities to catalyze change by aligning their approaches with human rights principles and investing in the conditions that make housing stability possible. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada The proliferation of homeless encampments in cities across Canada represents both a housing and a governance emergency, resulting in a human rights crisis. This paper describes the legislative context of municipal encampment governance in Canada and examines various court decisions related to encampments. The authors discuss traditional municipal responses to the crisis (including encampment removal), identify barriers to improving encampment strategies, and highlight how rights-based responses can produce outcomes that are more dignified and efficient than the status quo. By Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner Read the full report: Bit.ly Opportunities for reform: Implement a human rights framework to proactively align municipal policies and practices with human rights norms. Institutionalize human rights within local governance via independent oversight bodies or human rights impact assessments of proposed encampment responses. Pursue new intergovernmental partnerships that clarify roles, establish long-term funding, and enable coordinated planning. Shift public funds toward more effective and cost-efficient responses, such as supportive housing models. Reframe homelessness as a systemic failing rather than an individual choice to foster the political support needed to pursue long-term solutions. Partner with Indigenous governments, organizations, and service providers to develop culturally appropriate housing and shelter options. Logos: IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
6/ While cities are often on the front lines of the crisis managing parks, bylaws, and temporary shelters, they lack the revenue tools to independently fund and implement long-term housing solutions for unhoused people. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
… by aligning municipal enforcement policies with provincial commitments to housing and health care, governments can create pathways out of encampments rather than simply displacing encampment residents. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
5/ One of the key barriers to the adoption of human rights approaches is the persistent belief that they are inefficient, expensive, or permissive. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
In practice, many punitive encampment strategies are more expensive than rights-based alternatives due to the cost of repeated encampment evictions, legal challenges, and emergency responses. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
4/ The legal landscape continues to evolve, and recent court decisions have largely reinforced the limits of municipal authority to displace encampments in the absence of adequate alternatives. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Courts have affirmed that shelter beds must be accessible, appropriate, and voluntary to meet constitutional standards. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
3/ Although the Charter does not contain a right to housing, courts have interpreted the Charter to provide minimum legal protections for unhoused people. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
…[recent] cases have affirmed that, in the absence of accessible shelter or housing, enforcement of anti-camping bylaws can violate section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and security of the person. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
2/ The regulation of homeless encampments represents one of the most complex and contested areas of municipal governance in Canada today. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Most municipalities remain caught in a reactive cycle – torn between political pressures to clear public spaces and recognition that punitive approaches are expensive and potentially unlawful, and do not solve the problem of homelessness. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
1/ The proliferation of homeless encampments in cities across Canada represents both a housing and a governance crisis. New IMFG report highlights how emerging human rights approaches can better address the issue. bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Cities rely on their status as property owners to assert the authority to remove unhoused residents and their belongings, often invoking trespass laws and engaging law enforcement to carry out evictions. Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
imfgtoronto.bsky.social
New IMFG report identifies homeless encampments as an urgent human rights crisis and highlights how adopting new encampment strategies based on human rights will achieve a more dignified and efficient public outcome.

bit.ly/3Xl1hEX
Logos for IMFG, University of Toronto, School of Cities The Governance of Homeless Encampments in Canada Alexandra Flynn and Estair Van Wagner IMFG Papers on Municipal Finance and Governance No. 73, 2025
November 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
dignitydk.bsky.social
How can culture shape the treatment of complex PTSD? 🌍

Join the Nordic Conference on Trauma Treatment for a workshop on adapted ESTAIR manual.

dignity.dk/en/news/nordic-conference-gathers-leading-expertise-and-new-approaches-to-trauma-treatment/
November 5, 2025 at 8:53 AM
segadusterapeut.bsky.social
KIIDAN: Estairi klienditeenindus on tippklass! 🌟
Turkish Airlinesi oma seevastu sitemast sitt. Aga õnneks on Estair nende siinne esindaja ja lahendab lennult probleemid, mida türklased tuimalt eiravad.
Uzun yaşa Estair!
October 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
capitanpuffpuff.bsky.social
Look at you shine, you Fred Estair you…😁🤗
August 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
jennatonelli.bsky.social
Esther? More like EstAIR!
April 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
senorafacha.bsky.social
Debemous estair felisos dei quei Spainia fuei poutenssia moundial. Nou comou el sanchis dog quei nou hasei naida güenou.
fonsiloaizap.bsky.social Fonsi Loaiza @fonsiloaizap.bsky.social · Mar 16
Hoy se cumplen 22 años de esta fotografía de la vergüenza. Los criminales de guerra del Trío de las Azores (Aznar, Bush y Blair) siguen sin ser juzgados.
March 16, 2025 at 12:29 PM
klovar.cc
I have a bad, very bad feeling that our dear actor Fred estair is going to die a horrible death of being burned alive. Uh
Actor Fred Astaire in the 1970's movie, the Towering Inferno He is wearing full tuxedo and laughing and smiling with a woman.
February 24, 2025 at 6:03 AM
klovar.cc
Woo woo It is Fred estair.
Screenshot from the 1970's movie. The towering inferno of it. He's wearing a tuxedo with no coat looking in the mirror inspecting his chin.
February 24, 2025 at 5:29 AM
kfjkll.bsky.social
Está todo maducado… toda la comida estáir manducadavaan es una mierda no se experimenta bien.
December 21, 2024 at 11:03 PM
nicolasfaure.bsky.social
I am happy to announce that our watercolor-based artwork was featured as supplementary cover art in the latest issue of #ESTAir. If you would like to read more about our recent findings related to this artwork, check out our recent article: doi.org/10.1021/acse...
November 22, 2024 at 8:08 PM
canlii.bsky.social
The latest issue (vol 57 no 1) of the UBC Law Review is now available on CanLII! Featuring content by Nermin Karim, Mark Mancini, Léonid Sirota, Saambavi Mano, Alfonso Nocilla, François Tanguay-Renaud, Estair Van Wagner, and Alexandra Flynn. #legalcommentary zurl.co/zebo
October 31, 2024 at 9:35 PM
annajanel.bsky.social
BC is considering passing a bill to define what constitutes "reasonable alternative shelter" to homeless encampments. This could impact when municipalities can displace encampments. Alex Flynn, Estair Van Wagner & Stepan Wood critique this approach: theconversation.com/british-colu...
November 22, 2023 at 4:32 PM