People concerned about encampments or unsheltered individuals should call 211 to connect with the Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO). Learn more on our Housing and Homelessness Page. Report immediate threats to the safety and well-being of any community member, including medical emergency, substance poisoning, or violence by calling 9-1-1.
The information below provides transparency into how encampment-related concerns in public spaces are assessed and addressed under the Public Space Use By-law. While the data reflects processes and outcomes, our work is grounded first and foremost in people. The Public Space Use By-law provides a framework and sets of rules and laws, and it is applied through a human based approach through a compassionate, practical lens that prioritizes communication, understanding, and safety.
Our Public Space Use team, which consists of by-law enforcement and City staff, works closely with outreach providers NASO, Niagara Region, and other community partners to connect individuals with available shelter, services, and broader supports when capacity exists. While housing and shelter outcomes are tracked by Niagara Region and are not reflected in the data below, the data shared here reflects our commitment to transparency and accountability.
Behind every number is a thoughtful process focused on safety, compassion, and community well-being. We continuously review and refine our approach to ensure it remains responsive, humane, and effective.
Weekly Enforcement Attempt Outcomes (Last 6 Months)
This visualization shows the weekly counts of all enforcement attempt results (e.g., Class I, Class II, Clean-Up Completed, No Violation Found, Order Complied).
It helps illustrate week-to-week activity levels and provides insight into how enforcement workloads fluctuate over time.
Monthly Encampment Complaints & Month-over-Month Change (Last 6 Months)
This chart displays the total number of encampment-related complaints received each month, along with a Month-over-Month (MoM) percentage change.
It provides a clear view of increases or decreases in complaint volume and highlights overall trends.
Active vs. Resolved Encampment Cases (Last 6 Months)
This visualization breaks down monthly totals into Active Cases (open) and Resolved Cases (closed), with MoM percentage changes for each category.
It offers insight into operational performance, such as whether caseloads are increasing, stabilizing, or decreasing and how effectively cases are being resolved.
Encampment Complaint Intake (Filtered by In Date)
Please note that these visualizations are intended for analytical purposes only and may not reflect exact on-site conditions.
This section provides an interactive table of all encampment-related complaint records within the selected date range. All intake entries, including duplicates, are included to support auditing, case review, and operational validation. The table displays the following information: the address label associated with each complaint, the file number, the date the complaint was received, the current status of the file such as Resolved, In Progress, or Duplicate, and the final date when the file was closed if applicable.
A bubble map is also included to visualize complaint locations across St. Catharines. The table updates automatically based on the In Date filter at the top of the page.