Residents of CRAB Park homeless camp face intimidation, advocates say

Article content

The circle of blue fences that has been inexorably tightening around a small homeless camp in CRAB Park is creating an intimidating and inhumane situation for those living in tents with nowhere to go, observers say.

Article content

Advocate Fiona York said the Vancouver park board is misusing a memorandum of understanding between the province, the city and the park board designed to prevent camps, and is using drastic measures to intimidate about 30 people. vulnerable homeless who could not be accommodated after the The Board issued an eviction order on September 9.

“It is unnecessary to lock people up,” York said.

York said the Memorandum of Understanding drawn up in March 2021 during the Strathcona tent city crisis was overreached when it handed the Parks Board responsibility for enforcing the Park Control Ordinance aimed at preventing cities from tents, and that adequate housing is not yet available for everyone. Who needs it.

York said that on Sept. 9, when the Parks Board tried to clean up CRAB Park, there were between 45 and 50 people living in the park. Some received open “taxi to nowhere vouchers,” York said, others simply scattered and housing was not available to everyone. York said about half remained at the camp, and the Park Board’s rangers’ measures have gotten “tougher.”

Article content

“They added more fencing, they put a fence around the perimeter of the entire park, they put fences firmly around the tent area so that it is closed on all sides with checkpoints on two sides. It has become a prison-like maze. Emergency vehicles have to go through two closed doors, it is preventing access. “

Facilities include a gated fence at the west entrance to the park (in addition to the pre-existing locked gate), with ranger vehicles parked at the gate 24/7; the east entrance is chained and locked, with a ranger vehicle parked next to it, leaving a small opening in the camp.

York said safe housing is desperately needed, and care and consideration are overdue for people who have nowhere to stay in the meantime. “They should be able to stay in a public space. A safe and legal space, not a cattle pen. “

Article content

Athena Pranteau, of Cree Mohawk and Ojibway descent, was homeless with her 11-year-old son and two adult children for 348 days before finding suitable housing last week. She said Park Board employees put fences around her tent in Strathcona and locked her up with chains, mocked her Indian name and customs, made sarcastic comments and left a dog chain on a coat rack outside her tent. (Pranteau said he filed a police report.)

After moving to CRAB Park in June, more fences were erected, volunteers with food and medical supplies were barred or fined, and residents had no access to toilets or water, said Pranteau, who has returned to the park. every day to support those who are still homeless and participate in traditional ceremonies.

Article content

“We’re going to keep our space and stand out,” said Pranteau.

In a statement to Postmedia, the Vancouver park board said: “For the past few months, the park board staff, along with our outreach partners, have been engaging with homeless people at CRAB Park in an effort to help them move indoors. Our park rangers also play an integral role, providing an additional level of security for both visitors and people sleeping in the park. Some examples of this include monitoring and conducting routine wellness checks.

“As a signatory to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Vancouver and the Province of BC, the Vancouver Parks Board is committed to preventing camps in Vancouver Parks and is responsible for enforcing the Control Statutes. of Parks, which exclude temporary shelters “

[email protected]