BC ‘clear’ not enough housing as Vancouver camp ordered dismantling

Murray Rankin says BC Housing has accelerated efforts to secure new housing for camp residents, including finding new sites to lease or buy

.

British Columbia’s acting attorney general says the province was “clear” to Vancouver officials that the Crown corporation responsible for subsidized housing does not have enough spaces available for people being told to dismantle their shops along a street in the city’s Downtown Eastside.

.

Murray Rankin, who is also the minister responsible for housing, says that housing is a human right, and the “deeply worrying scenes from Hastings Street show how much more work we have to do to make that a reality for everyone in our communities.”

Rankin in a statement Friday says BC Housing has accelerated efforts to secure new housing for camp residents, including finding new sites to lease or buy and accelerating renovations in single-bedroom occupancy units as they remain. vacancies.

He says BC Housing aims to make a “limited number” of renovated units available next week, with more openings later in the fall.

Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry ordered the dismantling of tents set up along Hastings Street sidewalks last month, saying there was an extreme fire and safety risk.

.

Police blocked traffic Tuesday as city staff began what is expected to be a week-long process to dismantle the encampment, but little had changed by week’s end and most residents stayed where they were. saying they had nowhere to go.

The city has said staff plan to approach camp residents with “respect and sensitivity” to encourage voluntary removal of their tents and belongings.

Community advocacy groups, including the Vancouver Drug Users Area and the Pivot Law Society, have said clearing the encampment violates a memorandum of understanding between the city, the British Columbia government and the Vancouver parks board. , because people are told to move without being offered adequate housing. .

.

The stated goal of the agreement reached last March is to connect homeless people to housing and preserve their dignity by dismantling the encampments.

The city of Vancouver can enforce statutes that prohibit sidewalk structures “where adequate space is available for people to move indoors,” it read.

The province is not involved in the fire marshal’s order or enforcement of local bylaws, which prohibit sidewalk structures, but is “using all of BC Housing’s resources to do what we can to secure housing for people.” Ranking said.

“I recognize the deep uncertainty and upheaval facing those affected by the fire order, and we will provide updates on this work as we have news to share,” he said.

Rankin, who had served as Minister for Indigenous Relations, was appointed Acting Attorney General after David Eby resigned to run for leadership of the BC NDP.

More news, less announcements: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 a week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The province.