Building the Evidence:
Introducing Pillar 2

“No Place Else to Go: Surveying the Human Rights Experiences of Encampment Residents in Ontario” is a seven-part report series. ​
“Building the Evidence: Survey Design, Data Collection, and Research Highlights” is the first in our series of reports. It outlines how we designed the survey and collected the data, and offers a brief overview of our research findings, which are discussed in more detail in subsequent reports. ​

Introducing Pillar 2:
​Addressing conditions in encampments and basic needs

This pillar recognizes that meeting people's basic needs is a fundamental part of a human rights response to encampments. All levels of government have a responsibility to take steps to meet the basic survival needs for people experiencing homelessness in encampments, such as access to water, sanitation, and safe heating and cooling options (Flynn et al., 2022). 
​​To understand the extent to which these basic needs were being met, we asked participants about their access to essential health, safety, and sanitation supports while living in an encampment. Specifically, we asked participants about:
  • Receiving fire safety equipment or information while staying in an encampment.
  • Received assistance with garbage removal or pest control while staying in an encampment.
  • Being able to access to washroom and shower facilities while staying in an encampment.
  • Being able to connect with service providers providing food, water, and other survival supplies.​

Analyzing the Survey Findings​

To connect the survey findings to the pillars of a human rights–based response, we developed a set of exploratory questions for each pillar. These questions guided our analysis by providing a framework for organizing and interpreting the survey findings.​
Survey findings from this pillar were analyzed through the following exploratory questions:
  • Are the basic needs of people staying in encampments being met? By whom and how?
  • Are people staying in encampments criminalized for doing things that help them meet their basic needs?
  • Do people staying in encampments receive assistance with pest and garbage management, fire safety, and reducing other harms?
​​​Our analysis found that most people staying in encampments struggle to meet their basic needs and often rely on community organizations, charities, and mutual aid networks to access daily necessities. Activities essential to survival—such as using the washroom, staying warm or cool, and sleeping in public—can also result in criminalization. While some municipalities provide services such as garbage collection and portable washrooms at encampments, these supports are typically limited in scope and availability.​    

​About This Summary

This summary offers a very brief overview of Pillar 2: Addressing Conditions in Encampments and Basic Needs. The full pillar report provides a more detailed analysis, using the exploratory questions as a framework for interpreting the survey findings and making recommendations. It expands on these initial findings by situating them in relation to relevant policy contexts, identifying patterns in the data, and offering more specific implications for practice and systems change.​