King says homeless encampment at a public beach will not happen

The homeless advocacy group that wants the homeless to relocate to Kinsmen Beach may not be welcomed by the City of North Bay. 

Mark King, the Chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) and North Bay city councillor, believes that is a bad idea.

"If you're talking about setting up an encampment on Kinsmen Beach, And I want to speak to this as a city councillor, and I know what the city's steps are, within two hours, by-law officers would be over there and move them off of that property," King said bluntly. 

"That's public property. It's not designed for encampments, and they have to recognize that that's the issue."  

Greg Gray, a member of Homeless Advocates of North Bay, says their group is trying to coordinate a homeless move from about 40 different locations to a public beach. 

"We are trying to move the one from Second Avenue down to Kinsmen Beach and create a better park, create a better encampment from where they are," said Gray on Tuesday morning. 

Gray says their group will work with the homeless to build their own shelters as well. 

However, on Tuesday evening Gray stated the group would likely look at different options near downtown North Bay as the beach area would likely be too small. 

See related: Group looking to move homeless to area beach

See related: A new homeless hub near downtown North Bay? 

A review of homelessness in the district resulted in a recommendation for a unique 24/7 homeless homeless hub.

King says a conversation about the homeless issue will take place in council chambers on Wednesday afternoon involving local businesses and even former volunteers from The Gathering Place soup kitchen.