Evicted Squatters Move to City Hall

As of Friday, July 4th, the squatters of 1130 Water Street will be residing on the lawn in front of city hall. The decision to move to City Hall was made after the squatters were forcibly removed from their home at 6:30 am on Thursday July 3, 2003. Half an hour after a city official and police officer notified the squatters that they were trespassing and advised the squatters to leave, nine police officers in full riot gear and gas masks descended upon the building while a dozen other police officers surrounded the building. The squatters were later released in a public park without charge.

For many squatters/PCAP members the news of the eviction is a betrayal. In good faith, PCAP/squatters had entered into negotiations with the city, the Peterborough Community Housing Corporation and the Peterborough District Labour Council and it appeared that all were close to reaching a deal. Despite this spirit of cooperation, the decision to evict was made by City Council following a closed-meeting discussion on Monday night.

After news of the council's decision to evict, an emergency meeting was called between the squatters, city officials and coucillors on the evening of Wednesday July 3rd. Although a number of councillors promised to attend this meeting, not one showed up. PCAP/squatters attempted to dissuad the city solicitor of the eviction, but the Mayor advised that the council vote to evict was not reverseable.

The Peterborborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) and the squatters are determined to continue the fight for 1130 Water Street.

PCAP/Squatters are giving the city one week to address the following demands. Should these demands these demands not be met by Monday, July 14, 2003, PCAP/squatters will take swift, decisive public action.

We demand that the City of Peterborough:

1. Provide adequate shelter for the individuals who, following the directive of City Council, were evicted from 1130 Water Street and were therefore made homeless.

Since the decision to evict the squatters was the choice of City Council, the Council must take responsibility for the fact that they have directly made more people homeless in this city. The onus now lies on City Council to immediately create and implement a solution that is agreeable to the individuals who have been turned out onto the street.

2. Resume negotiations with PCAP/squatters regarding the future use of 1130 Water Street as affordable housing.

PCAP and the squatters entered into negotiations with the City in good faith. Although the closed-meeting discussion and subsequent decision to evict the squatters has severely undermined the working relationship that PCAP/squatters established with the City, we are offering the City a further opening for negotiations. Given the overwhelming public support for the squat, we urge the city to seize this opportunity to take concrete action to convert 1130 Water Street into affordable housing.

3. Take steps to increase the funding and supports available to residents of Peterborough whose hydro has been or will be cut off because they cannot afford to pay the bill.

Though PCAP/squatters have continually raised the problem of hydro cut-offs, Council has yet to adequately address this matter. Given that the above is a modest request that could have enormous impact on housing security in this city, Council should take immediate action on this issue.

Home Phone Numbers of Councillors:

Jeff Leal 742-1361
henry clarke 749-3149
margeree edwards 745-5864
glen paggett 742-4595
sylvia sutherland 743-3299
jack doris 745-5939
bill juby 745-4156
doug peacock 741-5435
paul ayotte 742-9835
bob hall 749-0867
john pritchard 741-2313

Petition Regarding 1130 Water Street

WHEREAS, the lack of affordable housing in Peterborough has reached a crisis state and current strategies to address the problem are inadequate;

WHEREAS, the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) and the squatters at 1130 Water Street have devised a direct and immediate strategy to create more

affordable housing by repairing the property at 1130 Water Street;

WHEREAS, the city acted in bad faith by forcibly evicting the squatters while still in the process of negotiations with PCAP/squatters;

We the undersigned, urge the City of Peterborough to:

Ø Provide adequate shelter for the individuals who, following the directive of City Council, were evicted from 1130 Water Street and were therefore made homeless.

Ø Resume negotiations with PCAP/squatters regarding the future use of 1130 Water Street as affordable housing.

Ø Take steps to increase the funding & supports available to residents of Peterborough whose hydro has been or will be cut off because they cannot afford to pay the bill.

Name:
Address & Postal Code:
Signature:

Drop off completed petitions to PCAP: 393 Water St Unit #17, Peterborough K9H 3S4 Tel: (705) 749-9694