Social Control and Homeless Encampments: Shifting the Role of Shelters Through Judicial Review

Abstract

In Canadian cities, unaffordable housing and the lack of community supports have led to an increase in the number of encampments in public spaces. Municipal governments argue that short-term shelter spaces are a reasonable response to the ongoing, amplified housing crisis. However, shelters are an example of the many ‘every day’ regulatory approaches used by public officials in related to unhoused people referenced by Johnsen et al., do not provide legal tenure, and are often unsafe for people and their possessions.