Melinda de L'Eveille - Windsor Police budget sees $2M increase as homelessness crisis worsens

Windsor Police Headquarters at 150 Goyeau St, Windsor. Photo by Melinda de L’Eveille.

Windsor Police budget sees $2M increase as homelessness crisis worsens

By Melinda de L’Eveille

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Windsor’s homeless community has seen astronomic growth, a crisis that continues to cost the city millions.

According to the city’s 2023 recommended operating budget, one of COVID-19’s estimated impacts on expenditures was an increasing need to address homelessness and housing, among other issues.

Throughout the day, one of Windsor's larger hotspots for the homeless community is the city’s downtown area.

Sebastian, a resident of the area who requested that only his first name be used, said that he very often fears for his safety.

When asked about his thoughts on the growing homeless population downtown, Sebastian expressed worry for those on the streets forced to endure frigid temperatures as well as some concern for himself and others over the frequent police activity in the area.

“I worry more about the homeless people themselves as they’re at risk of hypothermia given how cold some nights can get around here,” said Sebastian. “But I do get concerned given that I hear sirens almost every three days or so.”

Rachel de Vries, another resident of the area, mentioned she too feared for her own safety.

“I walk home from work at night and have to stay vigilant because of the kinds of things I've seen going on,” said de Vries. “I've seen people setting fires a couple of times and regularly see people doing drugs in bus shelters.”

The Windsor Police Service has launched several different initiatives in recent years, all with the same goal of disrupting crime and making the area safer.

In particular, the Windsor Police Service started up its Problem-Oriented Policing Unit, on top of opening up a Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) SafePoint spot on Wyandotte.

When asked about the effectiveness of these initiatives, Sebastian said that in his opinion they are “not effective at all,” a sentiment de Vries also shared.

Downtown resident at the intersection of Ouellette Avenue and Tuscarora Street in Windsor on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023. Photo by Melinda de L’Eveille.

“I don't really think they've done enough that will help long-term,” said de Vries. “It's good that they've been doing some things like the CTS on Wyandotte – but people had to fight for that and there's more that needs to be done.”

Since 2020, the Windsor Police’s yearly approved budget has seen an increase of more than $4.8 million. This year the city has proposed an additional increase of $2.1 million to their budget, which according to de Vries is not justified.

“It's not addressing the actual reasons for the increase in crime,” said de Vries. “If there was more money put towards things like mental health and addiction services it would reduce the need for budget increases.”

Dave Dietz, a homeless person who previously occupied the downtown area, explained his experience facing crime during his time there.

“Last summer I was homeless for three months - I’ve been robbed at knifepoint, lost my ID, and a lot of money,” said Dietz. “It really causes a lot of anguish to the more decent people who are just trying to live a normal life.”

According to Dietz, police services in the downtown area have cracked down heavily on panhandling.

Dietz was critical of the decision, stating that the police’s actions are “a deterrent to helping people get off the street - into affordable housing, clothing and food.”

Additionally, Dietz also criticized the city for its actions to mitigate crime downtown, stating that the city puts a lot of the work in the hands of the police, who he believes are generally “more forceful than helpful.”

“I would like to see City Hall, politicians step up to not just reprimand the criminals but to get them the help that they need,” said Dietz.