​Realizing the Right to housing: Municipal Policy Responses to Encampments

Project outputs - Written content

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By Laura Pin, Regan Sunshine Brussé,
​Shabeeh Ahmad, and Erin Dej

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Everyday Politics
​Conversations about the everyday politics that affect our lives.

​Joining the Conversation:
​Everyday Politics
​with Laura Mae Lindo

On this page, you'll find more information about the report and project, along with the recorded content from the show, written material, and information resources connected to the topics we discussed. 

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Rethinking Municipal Policy Responses to Encampments: Building a Human Rights Approach in Ontario

• Introduction
• Background: What are Neo-Vagrancy Bylaws and Encampment Protocols?
• Developing a Human Rights Policy Framework for Municipal Encampment Responses
  • Summary of All Exploratory Questions
• Research Methods: Identifying Municipal Bylaws and Protocols
• Findings: Old Bylaws, New Rights Gaps: Municipal Trends Across Ontario​
  • ​​Pillar 1: Decentre Policing and Enforcement
    • Pillar 1 Summary
  • Pillar 2: Addressing Conditions in Encampments and Basic Needs
    • ​​​Pillar 2 Summary
  • ​Pillar 3: Equitable and Accessible Social Services
    • ​​​Pillar 3 Summary
  • Pillar 4: Meaningful Participation
    • ​​​Pillar 4 Summary
  • Pillar 5: Recognition of Indigenous Rights
    • ​​​Pillar 5 Summary
• ​Conclusions and Policy Directions: Advancing Human Rights in Municipal Encampment Responses

Additional Outputs (PDFs) 

• Executive Summary (PDF)
  • Pillar 1 Summary (PDF)
  • Pillar 2 Summary (PDF)
  • Pillar 3 Summary (PDF)
  • Pillar 4 Summary (PDF)
  • Pillar 5 Summary (PDF)

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Waterloo Region Snapshot

This research snapshot was compiled by
​Dr. Laura Pin, Regan Sunshine Brussé, and Dr. Erin Dej in July 2025.

The survey was developed by the project advisory team which includes academic researchers, people with lived experience (PWLE) of homelessness, and people with connections to local homelessness service providing organizations. Many project advisors have expertise that draws on multiple categories.  

This research snapshot shares our preliminary findings from the encampment survey from people with experience staying in encampments in Waterloo Region exclusively.

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