Half of homeless camping downtown pack up tents

Edmonton's tent city is slowing shrinking as the province makes good on a promise to clear out homeless people camping out on downtown Crown land.

At one point, tent city had about 200 residents, but at last count only 97 remained.

Two dozen people are recorded as having found a new place to live, either in apartments, rooming houses or shelters. Municipal Affairs and Housing spokeswoman Tracy Balash said Wednesday another seven were evicted. The rest left on their own.

Rachel Shields is one of the lucky ones. She and her partner have just moved into transitional housing at Edmonton's YMCA.

She has a room with a bed and dresser, as well as access to a washroom, luxuries she didn't have during her month at tent city.

"The first couple of nights were kind of restless. We were going up and down the stairs for cigarettes," she recalled. "The first couple of days, it didn't sink in we were living here."

After her marriage ended seven months ago, Shields found herself homeless and without a job. She stayed with family, but after a dispute, she was asked to leave. Her next stop was a shelter and then tent city.

"After living with some of those people down there, they're going to get housed and they're going to lose their housing right away because there's still drugs and alcohol factors. There's still gangs that are factors. Some people just aren't house-able."

Cam McDonald, housing manager for Edmonton's YMCA, agrees with Shields that many at tent city aren't as simple to house. Those with jobs are the easiest.

Homeless pitched tentsin June

Tent city sprung up in June near the non-profit Bissell Centre in the city's downtown. Gangs and prostitution became a problem as the population mushroomed due to rising rents and a low vacancy rate in Edmonton.

Earlier this month, the province announced plans to build a chain-link fence around the campsite, add 24-hour security and give campers identification bracelets. At the time, aspokesman for the province said the camp would eventually be closed, but he couldn't say when.

Many people have left tent city because they don't like the province's approach, Susan McGee of the Edmonton Housing Trust Fundtold CBC News last week.

"That's kind of an initial reaction, I think, to the fencing, and the ID and some of the rules being imposed. But I'm not sure whether that trend will continue or by how much."