Advocates for Vancouver’s unhoused demanding a moratorium on park evictions this winter

Advocates for the unhoused are demanding that the City of Vancouver allow daytime sheltering in parks as the weather gets colder this winter.

Fiona York, who speaks for those experiencing homelessness, is demanding a moratorium on evictions from now until May 31st. She adds that it’s especially cold outside and we need to take that into account.

“People should not be evicted into the cold weather to be outside outdoors all day, especially people who are seniors, who are elderly, people with health conditions, people who don’t have anywhere to go, who have to carry their belongings,” she said.

She adds that when those in power make decisions about evictions from parks it has an impact and toll on people and their belongings. According to city bylaw, people are currently forced to pack up their things before 9 a.m. at every park except for a section of CRAB park.

“Tents are not designed to be taken down day after day … 365 days a year or through the winter. They are ripped and torn and are not designed to withstand this weather and it ends up again impacting people’s survival,” York said.

The City of Vancouver told CityNews in an email statement that “this is not a decampment. We’re not asking people to leave, we’re asking for people to comply with the by-law to support daytime access to the park by all park users.”

“The City of Vancouver’s Homelessness Outreach team attends to offer assistance and support to those sheltering in the park. The City’s partners will continue to connect with those sheltering in Crab Park to offer support services and access to shelter spaces as they become available,” the city adds.

This moratorium comes almost a week after the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) asked the province to stop going ahead with legislation that it says would “limit the ability of local governments to manage homeless encampments.”

The province said at that time it was trying to clarify what amenities an alternative shelter should have if a city is seeking a court injunction to enforce bylaws related to encampments. It also said that it has been trying to “set a standard” for clarity for enforcing bylaws through injunctions and providing those who are unhoused with adequate shelter space.

The UBCM believes, however, that it is “highly unlikely” that any community in B.C. has sufficient shelter space for all people experiencing homelessness and added that the legislation has been rushed through.

Even with sufficient shelter space, not all who live in the park want to go to shelters in the first place.

Mark, who lives at Oppenheimer Park, says that he would rather sleep in his tent than in a shelter. “I won’t go to a shelter, they’re unsafe … too many drugs, flesh-eating disease, lice, bedbugs, and staff that doesn’t care.”

“They’re as quick to take your goods and throw them in a garbage … and ban you from the shelter and now you got no place to stay,” he adds.

He explains that he feels safer in his tent and is prepared with extra insulated tarps and covers. “It’s warm in there … I’m in my T-shirt and a pair of sweats.”

-With files from Charlie Carey and Srushti Gangdev