Outcry after Vancouver decamps East Hastings during snowstorm

The City of Vancouver is drawing ire after a pre-planned decampment of a section of East Hastings Street, which advocates say left some without shelter, during the first snowstorm of the season.

Just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, city staff, along with members of the Vancouver Police Department, were seen decamping East Hastings Street between Main and Columbia Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside of tents and shelters.

The city says the structures were “encroaching on public space and doorways creating a fire hazard and making it difficult for pedestrians and others with mobility issues to travel safely through that section of sidewalk.”

According to the city, residents who had tents and shelter structures set up in the area were given three weeks of “daily verbal and written warnings” to remove their belongings, and a final warning of the decampment was issued on Monday.

On Nov. 29th, to inaugurate the first big snowfall of the year, @CityofVancouver and @VancouverPD evicted residents of the Hastings Tent City and destroyed their homes.

They did not offer housing. Residents were ordered to “get off of Hastings.”

Here’s what we saw: pic.twitter.com/Jz6UWeabH0

— VANDU (@VANDUpeople) November 30, 2022

The city says the “limited sites” that were removed Tuesday were done to comply with the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) Fire Chief’s July Order to address fire and safety risks in the area and was not a total decampment of the area.

Folks affected were offered shelter options, the city says, however, both PIVOT Legal Society and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) say people were not offered housing.

“None of the residents evicted from Hastings today were offered housing. They left because of the threat posed by the four @VancouverPD (Vancouver Police Department) constables and one sergeant on the scene,” VANDU wrote on Twitter. “Residents were forced into leaving their homes and given nothing in return.”

In a statement, PIVOT says no one was offered alternative sheltering areas, and it has also been told of “clean up” activities at CRAB Park — another camp that has been set up in the city.

“Significant snowfall accumulations are expected through Wednesday morning, and there is no adequate winter housing plan in place. The latest EWR Activation update shows a small number of emergency weather options, but mostly only for overnight spaces which are closed until 9pm and evict people by 7am,” PIVOT wrote.

This morning, we learned that City of Vancouver representatives, accompanied by the Vancouver Police Department, began actively decamping people sheltering in the 100-Block of East Hastings Street, part of the larger Hastings Tent City. https://t.co/jtwjtmkmIC

— Pivot Legal Society (@pivotlegal) November 30, 2022

“These spaces will be evicted when weather conditions “improve” which includes temperatures rising above a completely arbitrary 0 or –5 °C.”

The legality of the VFRS Fire Order to remove structures along East Hastings is currently under judicial review. PIVOT says the “review of this Fire Order and the City of Vancouver’s enforcement actions highlight the gross disparities that people who rely on public space face as they seek shelter in the community.”

“The City’s enforcement of this bylaw is constitutionally suspect, as it is being undertaken without due consideration of the human rights and social conditions of Hastings Tent City Residents,” PIVOT added.

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In a statement to CityNews, the City of Vancouver says the residents impacted were offered storage and shelter options prior to the impoundment of their belongings and said any items would be stored for 30 days before being discarded.

“The City’s Homelessness Services team connects regularly with those sheltering outdoors, encouraging them to access the safety of warming centres and available shelters. With snow and freezing temperatures in the forecast this week, the City is reminding people experiencing homelessness there are warm, safe spaces available. During the cold months, it is important people sheltering outside seek respite at available centres and shelters,” the city wrote.