Encampments

With increased homelessness in Waterloo region and across Canada, you may notice more encampments in public places across the city.

Learn how the City of Waterloo is working with community partners to address this and what we're doing to help.

On this page:

  1. Background
  2. Government response
  3. Report an encampment

Background

The number of local people experiencing homelessness has grown significantly in recent years.

The Region of Waterloo estimates about 2371 people are currently experiencing any type of homelessness across the region, including 78% experiencing chronic homelessness. Review the Region of Waterloo report.

This is a complex issue affected by many factors, including:

  • a lack of affordable housing
  • mental health and trauma
  • job loss and poverty
  • the opioid crisis and other drug use

Government response

The Region of Waterloo leads local housing and homelessness services.

This brings together community partners, local municipalities, and the provincial and federal governments to work on this complex issue.

Their work includes:

The City of Waterloo supports this work by:

Report an encampment

To report an encampment, use the online form or call 519-886-2310.

Call 911 if the situation is an emergency or crisis.

When you report:

  • include the location and a description
  • staff may contact you if more information is needed
  • reports are not monitored 24/7
  • it may take time to respond

Avoid reporting the same issue more than once. Duplicate reports can delay response times.

Report an encampment

Report other concerns