The Coordinated Informed Response (CIR) team is a trained, highly-engaged team of City of London employees, London Police Services and the community outreach agencies London CARES and 519Pursuit. CIR is on the streets every day, offering support and services to Londoners living unsheltered. This team also works closely with London businesses to help address challenges related to individuals that live unsheltered.
Report an issue with an encampment
If you notice an encampment in your neighbourhood, please do not enter the area yourself.
If someone appears to be in danger or there is a violent situation, call 911 immediately.
For other concerns, you can report an issue through the Service London online portal, over the phone by calling 519-661-4570, or by emailing service@london.ca.
Encampment Health and Safety Framework
Preventing injury, illness, and loss of life for people living in encampments and people that live or work near encampments is critically important. While even a single encampment can present risks to be addressed, anytime there is a concentration of tents in a single space, the risk factors are even greater.
To assist people living in encampments, the City of London has established clear parameters of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable as it relates to locations of encampments, the number of structures in encampments, and various behaviours of people in encampments.
Encampment safety parameters
The following information captures the operating considerations to promote safety for people living in encampments and neighbours.
- Human Trafficking: Human trafficking or any illegal associated activity is not tolerated. Any evidence of human trafficking observed within the encampment will be reported.
- Violence/threats: Intimidation, physical violence, or threats of physical violence towards neighbouring tents, community residents, or staff providing services will not be tolerated.
- Weapons: Brandishing weapons or firearms towards other neighbouring tents, community residents, or staff providing services will not be tolerated.
- Pets: Pets must be on a leash when outside a tent/structure. A muzzle is required if the pet is known to be violent.
- Fires: No open burn fires, compressed gas cylinders, gasoline containers, or explosives are permitted at encampments.
- Cleanliness: No used, uncapped needles in or around the site. Sharps containers must be used for disposal. No large amounts of garbage, food remains, or evidence of hoarding.
- Underage individuals: No minors (under 16) are to be permitted to reside in the encampment. If minors are observed residing in the camp, they are to be reported to CAS.
- Camp Capacity: Structures must be free standing and not attached to anything. No fortification will be permitted.
- Location of Camp: Tents cannot be located near a playground, pathway, open area of play, or on a flood plain, river embankment, roadways, private property, side walks, or bus shelters.
The following map identifies locations where encampments are proactively enforced. These are mixed use spaces that are regularly utilized for multiple purposes.
Coordinated Informed Response process
The CIR process follows a three-step approach to address encampments while prioritizing safety, dignity, and coordination. When an encampment is identified, the team issues a Notice Order with a cleanup timeline, returns to clear the site and collect any valuable items, and then posts a Receipt of Notice with information on how to retrieve belongings. This process helps ensure a consistent and respectful response to encampments across the city.
Learn more
Step One: Notice Order
When a call or complaint is received, or if the CIR team identifies a bylaw or safety concern, the team will issue a Notice Order. This notice informs individuals of the deadline by which the site must be cleared or when the CIR team will begin cleanup. Each Notice Order includes an occurrence number linked to a specific site. If individuals are not present during the cleanup, they can reference this number to inquire about any items found at the site.
The cleanup timeline depends on the severity of the situation, safety concerns, and the size of the encampment. In most cases, the deadline ranges from 24 to 72 hours. However, if a site poses an immediate safety risk—such as blocking roadways or sidewalks—removal may occur right away.
Step Two: Clean Up
On the date specified in the Notice Order, the Coordinated Informed Response (CIR) team will return to ensure the site is cleared or that the individual has moved on. The team will assess the area and collect any valuable items left behind. These items will be bagged, labeled with the occurrence number, and stored for 60 days. Individuals who were not present during the cleanup can retrieve their belongings through London CARES outreach. It’s important to note that weapons or items suspected to be connected to criminal activity will be turned over to London Police Service.
Step Three: Receipt of Notice
After completing a cleanup, the CIR team will issue and post a Receipt of Notice. This document provides information on where individuals can retrieve their belongings if they were not present during the cleanup. The Receipt of Notice includes the same occurrence number as the Notice Order, ensuring a clear record of the site and any collected items.
Support on private property
In addition to supporting individuals living unsheltered, the CIR team assists property owners in addressing challenges related to street-involved individuals on private property.
To comply with privacy regulations, the CIR team can only enter private property with prior consent through the Trespass Agreement Program. Property and business owners can provide consent by contacting the CIR team and London Police Service or by completing the Trespass Agreement Program form using the button below. Once registered, property and business owners will receive a CIR sticker to display in their front window, signalling that the team has permission to enter and assist as needed. For support, contact the CIR team at 519-661-2489.
Learn about the trespass agreement Program
Coordinated informed response team members
The CIR team is made up of representatives from various City of London service areas, along with community partners such as London CARES, Atlosha Family Healing Services, and London Police Services. Each partner plays a unique role within the team, all working together toward the shared goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of all Londoners. This team creates direct connections with individuals experiencing homelessness in our city, engaging with them daily to offer services, navigate available supports, and, most importantly, build relationships.
London Cares, 519Pursuit, and Atlosha Family Healing Services
This team works directly with individuals who are unsheltered or street-involved. They conduct wellness checks and assist individuals in finding safer housing alternatives. These organizations also bring basic needs directly to individuals living unsheltered in encampments. While providing these services, the team also helps individuals get "paper ready" to be placed on an active housing list.
For outreach, London Cares can be reached at londoncares.ca or by phone at (519) 673-3242, and 519Pursuit can be reached at 519pursuit.ca. Atlohsa Family Healing Services can be contacted at atlohsa.com or by phone at (519) 438-0068.
Municipal Compliance
Municipal Compliance plays a critical role within the CIR team. They monitor City of London streets, sidewalks, and known "hot spots" for signs of occupancy, both on private and public property. They also provide updates to the team regarding encampments, individuals sleeping rough, or evidence of unsheltered living. The team enforces municipal laws and issues verbal notifications of infractions.
If criminal activity is detected or an individual is at imminent risk of harm, they report the situation to London Police Services. When they encounter someone living unsheltered, they notify the outreach team to begin engagement.
When necessary, the team posts official Notices of Orders and responds to community complaints about both private and public properties. They coordinate with the Road Operations team to clean up encampments and ensure daily records are updated in the City’s internal communication system, allowing the entire CIR team to access to the latest information.
Parks and Forestry
This team manages the parks and City of London facilities and respond to needle, debris, and garbage clean up. They also report any encampments they see during their rounds to the Municipal Compliance and London CARES outreach members of the team. This team is also responsible for placing and emptying the needle bins around the city.
Emergency Management and Security Services
This team enforces trespass violations on City of London property and reports concerns such as encampments, needles, and debris to other CIR team members. They also conduct nightly vehicle patrols to help ensure the safety of all Londoners.
Road Operations
This team maintains roadways, sidewalks, and City properties across London. They handle the removal of garbage, debris, and needles from City property and are responsible for the physical cleanup of encampments.
City of London Encampment Response
The City of London’s response to encampments is grounded in a human rights-based approach, with a focus on outreach, safety, and long-term housing solutions developed in collaboration with community partners. This includes initiatives like Mobile Service Depots, the Community Encampment Plan, and Coordinated Informed Response.