The Mayor of Belleville is frustrated with an alarming 400 percent increase in calls to the Belleville Police Service to deal with incidents involving homelessness and mental health issues.
Mitch Panciuk told the city’s Police Services Board on Thursday that while many people and agencies stand ready to provide assistance to the vulnerable population some of them absolutely refuse to accept the help so problems and calls to the police continue.
“We need to take action and sometimes that may be dealing more stringently with requiring folks to take the assistance that’s available.”
Panciuk stressed homelessness/mental health issues are troubling communities throughout the province and that any solutions will involve the entire community, not just the police or any other agency.
Belleville Police Chief says the homeless population includes many people who have never lived in Belleville as the city is known throughout the region to have the services they need.
