Vancouver DTES residents clash with city staff, police

Residents on the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside clashed with city workers accompanied by police, as they attempted to remove tents and people’s belongings.

Ryan Sudds, organizer of the group Stop the Sweeps, says it began around 2 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. He says around 20 Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers escorted the city workers who were looking to clear the sidewalks of East Hastings Street.

“None of the residents want to leave because they don’t have housing or other options,” he told CityNews.

Sudds says there was one person who had their belongings and tents removed, much to their dismay.

BREAKING:

Approximately 15 uniformed VPD constables and COV Engineering staff are decamping the North side of 0 block, East Hastings.

Where is BC Housing? Where are the shelter rate units? Where is David Eby All we see are cops. pic.twitter.com/yae9VZlujN

— VANDU (@VANDUpeople) February 22, 2023

“He says he’ll start again but people shouldn’t have to start again,” he said. “If people don’t have a tent, then they can’t stay on the block anymore. They have nowhere else to go.”

In a statement to CityNews, the City of Vancouver says the decampment efforts are nothing new.

“City staff continue to be out on E Hastings on a daily basis to clean and to encourage people to remove their structures. E Hastings has high numbers of pedestrians and the structures present significant fire risks, obstruct sidewalk and building access, and create road safety concerns,” the statement read in part.

“Where individuals are required to remove their structures and have indicated that they do not have other housing, they are being offered access to shelter spaces or available SRO rooms. Our Homelessness Services Outreach team continues to connect with people sheltering outdoors on East Hastings Street and supporting them to access income, support services and housing and shelter spaces as they become available,” the city said.

The VPD says officers were only on hand to maintain peace.

“We are down there as per the City’s request as they conduct their business with the residents in tents. This isn’t new, this has been going on for several months now. VPD’s only role is to standby by to ensure safety,” the department stated.

Read More: Vancouver DTES residents feel decampment pressures daily

However, Sudds refutes the city’s claim that people experiencing homelessness were offered housing.

“The residents we spoke to said they haven’t been offered suitable shelter or housing,” he said. “The city seems to be lying to us and themselves.”

-With files from Martin MacMahon and Michael Williams