Municipal workers in Toronto are currently dismantling a homeless encampment outside St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Anglican Church in the vibrant Kensington Market neighborhood due to fire safety concerns. Responding to an order from Toronto Fire Services, approximately 12 residents voluntarily left the site, which had been deemed a fire hazard due to the accumulation of flammable materials.
Both the city and the church confirmed that the directive to vacate was issued by Toronto Fire earlier this week. Following this, the city issued a subsequent notification on Wednesday urging the removal of items from the street.
This marks the second recent instance of encampment clearance by the city, with a previous site at Dufferin Grove Park also being cleared. The city has stated that shelter accommodations have been offered to all residents affected by the Bellevue Avenue encampment, with seven individuals opting to transition to these shelters.
Maggie Helwig, the church’s priest, expressed her sadness at the dismantling of the encampment, noting that many of the residents had become her friends. The church, which has served as an encampment location for around four years, had not received an eviction notice since November 2023.