A small tent city has been set up in a grassy area across from Confederation Building in St. John’s in an attempt to draw greater attention to the province’s housing crisis.
People camping there say they have nowhere else to turn, and want to send government a message about the province’s lack of housing, especially affordable housing.
Some at the site say they have been in and out of the shelter system, but that isn’t working for them.
Shawn Noseworthy says he became homeless in January after moving back to the province from Ontario.
He says a lot of people are in the same position.
“A lot of these people are good people that need homes just as bad as I do” Noseworthy told VOCM News. “We’re not looking for shelter, we’re not looking for money, we’re looking for warm, safe places to live.”
Penny Mutrey says she became homeless in November of last year. She is camping in front of Confederation Building to let government know that something needs to be done to address homelessness.
Mutrey says as a recovered drug addict, she finds staying in a shelter difficult as some of those around her are still using, and she is afraid to relapse.
