‘Gotta go, I guess’: Regina’s homeless pack up as encampment cleared

When most of us move, we load up vans and trucks, with everything we own packed and ready to go.

But for people living on the streets, their only set of wheels might be a shopping cart or a stroller.

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A few dozen people living at a homeless encampment near Carmichael Outreach in Regina were told they needed to leave on Monday. On Tuesday, the last of those with tarps and tents pitched on the dirt-packed lot packed up and left.

Melissa Bell is one of the people who packed up her belongings this week.

“It sucks, yeah, but nothing we can do if we didn’t ask the owners of the land, right? I guess I can understand if people aren’t being clean,” she said.

Melissa Bell said it’s unfortunate that they’re getting kicked off the property, but she also understands why they have to go. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

“I can understand the owner doesn’t want us on his property.”

On Tuesday, Bell was folding blankets, stuffing bags and strollers, and getting ready to move to Pepsi Park.

“Most of it is packed already. I put it in shopping carts and strollers (to) go a few blocks to the park,” she chuckled.

“Gotta go, I guess.”

After living on the streets for a year, Bell said she has learned to not get too attached to her belongings.

“It’s one of my rules. I don’t take things home if I’m not gonna use them within a matter of days,” she said.

However, she said it is something her partner has not yet learned.

“My partner has like, three, four bags of just trinkets. And I’m always like, ‘Oh, I’m not carrying the bags around.’ I get mad at them. I’m putting bags inside of bags and it bugs me. Too much clutter in such a small area,” Bell said.

A Regina police officer told 980 CJME on Tuesday he was checking in on the health and wellness of those packing. He said the property owner was the one was removing the encampment, and called in police to make sure everyone stayed safe and things remained peaceful.

As of Tuesday morning, most of those living at the encampment had packed up their belongings and moved. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)

Ron – who uses the initials D.W.B for his last name – said he has been living on the streets of Regina for the past five years.

“The hardships have been extensive,” he said. “I’ve had a major loss in my priorities changing due to the drug use. My priority used to be getting a home. Living out here and trying to cope is scary – it changes you after a while.”

He got out of his tent with his head hung on Tuesday and started packing his belongings. He walked with slow, shaky steps, explaining that he didn’t know how to feel while packing up to move.

“I’d like to look at the bright side of things, but you know what? There is no bright side. Nobody cares. Nobody is going to help us. So what am I supposed to do?” he said.

“I’ve already been down so low for so long. I can’t go any lower. There are days when it makes me hit a real rock-bottom, primal depression.”

A Regina police officer was checking in on people living at the encampment on Tuesday, making sure they were OK. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

When D.W.B. first came to Regina 15 years ago, he said he did an apprenticeship with a friend and learned two trades, but continued to struggle with a drug addiction.

“I was proud of myself. I started to make some good money and I just didn’t want to stop using drugs, and that was my problem. So slowly, after about eight years, the money got better and better, and as money got better the amount of drugs I did increased,” he said.

“It’s really eye-opening for me to understand I had a direct action that I made to cause my homelessness, and I am the only one that’s going to be able to step forward again and take action.”

D.W.B. said the past five years have been difficult and he wants to get off the streets, but said it’s hard to make such a major change with little support available.

“When you have no food, money for food, no money for anything – clothes or medicine – it’s really hard… It’s horrible, man. Like, I’m tired of living this way.”

Ron D.W.B. said it is really hard living outside, explaining that many homeless people have sores on their hands from the conditions. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)

The lot – once full of tents and makeshift homes – is now quiet, fenced off and empty.

A permanent emergency shelter at the former Eagles Club on Halifax Street is set to open in July. It is meant to replace the shelter at the Nest Health Centre when the city’s lease expires this summer.

On Wednesday morning, the homeless encampment near Carmichael Outreach was empty. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)