Encampment at Abbotsford City Hall remains for the third day

An encampment outside the Abbotsford City Hall that is home to more than a dozen people remains there for a third day.

The group is protesting homelessness and demanding that the city provides them with a permanent space to set up their tents.

The City Hall encampment was established after campers were recently evicted from Babich Park.

Mayor of Abbotsford Ross Siemens says the city is working diligently with BC Housing and the province because it shares the same concerns as the protesters.

Siemens says the city is an “easy target” even though the provincial government should be the one urged to solve the problem.

“It really is a BC Housing and provincial issue,” he said. “There are no grassy spots in front of the MLA offices and no grassy spots in front of BC Housing in Abbotsford.”

He adds that a neighbourhood park is not the right place to protest either, and is glad that it’s happening outside City Hall rather than a park.

“I think it’s more appropriate that if they had a government entity for a protest, as opposed to a neighbourhood park, because that caused all sorts of other challenges for the neighbours and daycare that’s close by,” he said.

Siemens says City Hall may be a more appropriate spot for protest but not the appropriate level of government.

“That park (referring to Babich Park) is widely used by children and political protests are better addressed at the political level of adults, and not bring children and neighbourhoods into those discussions,” he said. “We’ve worked very hard to destigmatize and to really have productive conversations.”

Siemens says shelters are being offered to protesters by BC Housing, but for various reasons, they don’t want to go to these shelters.

Pastor at The 5 and 2 Ministries Ward Draper says that homeless shelters are not always able to meet everyone’s needs.

“Have you ever stayed in a homeless shelter yourself? It’s not a pleasant experience, even like, at the best of times,” he said. “Some folks don’t have the mental health capacities to be in that space, they have trauma.”

Draper says even if shelter spaces are available, they are not enough for the amount of people that need a bed.

“We’ve got like 800 on the streets, and these are just rough numbers,” he said. “It’s like us being told that we only have one space to go to, and if you don’t use that space then you’re ungrateful.

The pastor says homeless shelters are challenging for various reasons.

“Be it the person beside you snores, the other person talks in their sleep, or has violent outbursts,” he said. “Or [imagine] you’re a woman who has been sexually assaulted, and you don’t feel safe in the new types of space. It’s like — the list is endless.”

Siemens adds that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows protest so the city is helping keep the lines of communication open between protesters and the government.

“We sort of feel like we’re in the middle of the debate, or the discussion and so we’ll just facilitate those discussions,” he said. “At this point, just let that play out and monitor it very closely. Our staff are checking in with service providers and in with them (protesters).”

Program Director of Abbotsford Drug War Survivors, Britanny Maple says people deserve basic needs.

“We want them to tell us where people can seek safety and shelter from the elements 24-hours a day and have access to basic needs like a washroom,” she said.

A resident of the encampment says a dedicated space is necessary.

“They should be able to be a camp designated for people that they don’t have to move every (week),” Jonny Sturgeon said.

—With files from Kate Walker.