The city's homeless continue to camp at various locations throughout the city, despite the availability of beds and housing units.

At least four "tent cities" have popped up in Peterborough since the Warming Room closed July 1.

Many homeless campers have said there's no where for them to go, so they're forced to live outside in tents.

But city officials say otherwise.

"There seems to be this misconception that there's no place for these people to go," said Keith Riel, Ashburnham Ward councillor and social services chair.

Riel said there are 20 housing units available for those in need, in addition to open spaces at the cities three shelters: Cameron House, Brock Mission and YES Shelter for Youth and Families.

"I guess some people just want to camp out," Riel said.

Last month was the first time Cameron House, a women's shelter, has had a vacancy in a long time, he added.

"So, people are not wanting to either abide by the rules or go to Cameron House," Riel said.

Brendan Wedley, the city's communications services manager, said there are about 25 open beds across the three shelters, though that number fluctuates.

"The city continues to reach out to these people to try to connect them with those housing and shelter services," Wedley said.

Angela Wall and her boyfriend Clifford Legge don't seem to be getting the message, however.

The couple has been camping at Riverside Park in East City since July 1. They'd been staying at the Warming Room in Murry Street Baptist Church's basement for the last few months.

There are three other tents pitched in the park, and many more set up at Victoria Park and St. John's Anglican Church. There's also a few at City Hall.

Wall, 43, and Legge, 42, said they didn't want to join the masses at Victoria Park because it's filled with drugs.

"I don't do needles. We don't do drugs, we just drink," Wall said, while sipping on a can of Laker Ice.

Yet at the end of the day, Wall said she doesn't want to be in any park.

"I want to be in a home," Wall said, crying.

The couple says they've been on a waiting list for affordable housing for three years, but nothing has come of it.

"We have money, it's finding housing," she said.

People have been donating items to the homeless, such as bedding, clothes, water, sanitary supplies and Naloxone kits (an opioid overdose antidote).

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As items are being dropped off for Wall and Legge, Wall took a few steps away to urinate while continuing to chat with the donors.

Going to the bathroom in public is one of the complaints Riel has been hearing from his constituents.

Last week, the city dropped off a porta potty at Victoria Park to help deal with the issue there.

Part of the overall issue, Riel said, is that not everyone camping or previously using the Warming Room are homeless. Some have places to stay but don't want to.

"So, we're trying to grapple around who is actually homeless in Peterborough and what accommodations we need," he said.

The councillor said the city has been working with landlords, encouraging them to accept those in need. Some landlords wouldn't previously rent to people with low incomes or recipients of Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.

Now that the city has a 24-7 call line open to support landlords, things are changing, Riel said.

The real solution is affordable and geared-to-income housing, which Riel said all levels of government need to get behind.

"The city can't do it on its own, we don't have the resources to do it."

In the meantime, Wall and Legge will continue to live in the park and drink daily.

"We just sit and drink all day - what else are you going to do," Wall said.

jessica.nyznik

@peterboroughdaily.com