For more than 25 years, Regeneration Outreach Community has offered vital food programs, addiction supports and food programs. For the past 10 years it has occupied space at Grace United Church in downtown Brampton.
The City of Brampton and Region of Peel have benefited from Regeneration’s frontline knowledge to shape policy and programs, which have saved costs, and led to better outcomes for distressed individuals.
On July 17, Brampton City Council directed the city solicitor to issue a formal letter threatening legal action to Regeneration Outreach and Grace United Church. Council claimed Regeneration operations were causing concern to residents’ public safety issues stemming from visitors to their site.
Regeneration told the Brampton Guardian it was blindsided by the threat of the letter and was not invited to the town hall meeting to hear residents issue their complaints. The July 17 motion sets legal action should Regeneration not take corrective action for residents’ safety concerns which go against neighbourhood character.
Corrective steps include hiring private security and deterring loitering. With the limited resources, funding, and operating hours, Regeneration cannot monitor their site all times. Increased loitering in Brampton is an impact of Region of Peel’s “No-Encampment Zones” enforcement as part of its coordinated homeless response program.
Individuals cleared from encampments shift between overcrowded shelters and other spaces such as Grace United Church. Regeneration has been searching for a new site for over a year. Its current lease with Grace United expires and Regen services require more space to serve guests.
In an open letter published on social media, Regeneration states it cannot solve this issue alone. It requests support from the city and has willingness to “move forward together”.