Strathcona protesters demand sustainable solutions to homeless camp at local park

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Protesters who took to Prior Street Tuesday morning aim to force a solution to what people in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood call a growing homeless problem.

Demonstrators are demanding action to address the large tent city that has taken over part of Strathcona Park. However, organizers insist this isn’t about forcing their problems into another part of the city.

“It is not, ‘Get those people out of our park.’ It is not about that. It is about trying to get the politicians, trying to get Kennedy Stewart and the councillors, and provincial MLAs to do something. And then on the federal side of things, to get them to fund it,” organizer Chris May tells NEWS 1130. “The lack of funding is atrocious.

Prior St. Protest had attracted dozens to Strathcona Park, demanding action on homelessness as some residents of the tent city look on. pic.twitter.com/70FD73amcJ

— Mike Lloyd (@llikemoyd) September 29, 2020

“The fact that we can live in a world where a person can own a yacht worth $250 million but there are people in tents over there that need support and it’s about money and the feds aren’t ponying up is ridiculous.”

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Many people in the neighbourhood say they are fed up with the problems associated with the homeless encampment, and that health, safety, and crime concerns have all increased since the large tent city was set up at Strathcona Park.

A large number of homeless campers moved to Strathcona after tenters forced out of CRAB Park in June, and prior to that, were forced out of Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside.

“The fact that these members of our community have been displaced like this time and time again is ridiculous,” May says, adding the repeated displacement of homeless people is just unacceptable.

“What are we seeing at the camp? We’re seeing 450 plus tents and all the people who go along with that, with a group of people who are trying to volunteer and trying to organize. But the location of that camp has meant that the neighbourhood of Strathcona, the school grounds, the other small park in the neighbourhood really have become of thoroughfare between Hastings and Main and the Downtown Eastside and that camp,” he explains. “That has led to a variety of issues.”

A rally is planned for tomorrow morning along Prior Street. The "housed and unhoused" are invited to protest "government inaction around the issues of unhoused neighbours of our community, their treatment, and housing." The demonstration is scheduled to start at 7:30am.

— Mike Lloyd (@llikemoyd) September 28, 2020

However, despite the concerns associated with the new encampment, May says there is plenty of compassion in their neighbourhood.

Residents would like to see sustainable housing solutions and assistance for those who need help with addiction and mental health issues. May says that is something that has not come from our politicians.

“Why is it up to media to walk into that camp, or us as residents? Or pictures that people go in and take and send out about what it’s like. Why is that what’s happening and not elected politicians being down there, understanding it, and taking action?”

The protest is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. along Prior Street between Gove Avenue and Glen Drive. Everyone from homeowners, to renters, to social housing residents, to people living at the tent city have been invited, all to help push for solutions.

Organizers setting up for a protest along Prior St by Strathcona Park. Residents pushing for solutions for a homeless encampment that has set up in the park. pic.twitter.com/nm4GZ49hRW

— Mike Lloyd (@llikemoyd) September 29, 2020

“We support them in wanting to have a safe home, and a safe place to live, and a safe life just like everybody else.”