Homeless Sudbury man worried he could freeze in a tent

Sudbury homeless man struggles to stay warm A Sudbury man dealing with homelessness says the city made him take down a structure he built to help him stay warm this winter.

Sudbury's Matthew Klug who has been homeless for six months, says he was ordered by bylaw to tear down a structure he built beside his tent.

Klug, 45, has been homeless for six months and has been living rough outdoors in Energy Court.

"They come here on Sundays to hand out eviction … not eviction but demolish notes," he said.

"You know that’s what they are paying bylaw for to come here on Sundays to hand this out so we have to tear down our stuff. That’s well-spent money there, eh?"

Klug said he planned to live in the section they are ordering him to tear down if he doesn’t find a place before winter.

"I was insulating it and stuff and you know, apparently, this is unsafe because it might collapse because of the snow. But a tent is OK because that is going to hold the snow," he said.

In an email, Greater Sudbury said unsafe structures must be removed.

"Staff continue to make regular visits to encampment sites to check on the wellness of individuals, assess safety concerns and connect them with appropriate services," the email said.

"Permanent structures that were being built in Energy Court have been removed and individuals have all shown compliance."

Klug said he’s very angry about having to tear down a structure that’s taken three months to build and would keep him warmer than a tent.

"Oh no a tent is fine – yeah, freeze to death in your tent," he said.

"Don’t make something that might keep you warm, tear it down -- that’s the city’s logic."

Klug said he is on the city’s emergency housing list and is hopeful a place will come through.

In the meantime, as the colder weather sets in, he’s preparing to tough it outdoors in his tent.