Cobourg, ON (November 17, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg would like to provide an update to the community on the encampment operating at 390 King Street East, the former Brookside Youth Centre Property.

As the encampment continues, the Town of Cobourg would like to provide residents with an update on the activities of staff and the community programing being employed. Community partners including Northumberland County Community and Social Services, NHH Community Mental Health Services outreach workers, and the Cobourg Police Service Homeless Addiction Resource Program (HARP) team continue work with those residing at the encampment with the collectivegoal to support voluntary resolution of the encampment through offers of service. The Town of Cobourg remains focused on community safety and wellbeing and adherence to municipal By-laws and have acted independently to protect life and property in our community.

During the months of September and October, the Town of Cobourg and Northumberland County participated in regular status calls with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) who manage the property on behalf of the Province of Ontario. Through these status calls, the Town of Cobourg and community partners provided updates to the province on events surrounding the encampment and the impact on the community. The Town of Cobourg has reached out to the provincial government indicating that more support is needed for services at the local level.

This week, the Town of Cobourg has submitted a letter to Infrastructure Ontario confirming that the Minister of Infrastructure, as the owner of the Brookside Property and IO who is responsible for it’s management, have responsibility to take all steps deemed reasonable and necessary to ensure that any persons entering on the premises are reasonably safe while on the premises and further that the Ministry and IO should immediately take reasonable steps to make the premises safe.

Homelessness continues to be a challenge facing communities across Canada. Addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness is a complex issue with economic, health care, and social implications that requires a collective and coordinated approach by highly skilled professionals. It is a matter taken seriously by every member of Cobourg Council.

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