Vancouver continues to clear East Hastings, handful of people receive shelter

After metropolis employees and police moved to clear tents and non permanent shelters alongside East Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Wednesday, some folks had already returned and arrange makeshift properties on the sidewalks by early Thursday morning.

Just earlier than 9 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department had blocked East Hastings once more, this time between Gore Avenue and Main Street to proceed to take away tents and buildings within the space. After 11 a.m., the block had moved west to between Main and Columbia streets.

The metropolis and police haven’t supplied a time for reopening.

Hastings Street shall be closed between Gore and Main Streets as City of Vancouver crews proceed to work inside the Hastings Street encampments.

— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) April 6, 2023

While the town has insisted shelter areas have been made accessible for anybody impacted by the pressured displacement, it appears not most of the estimated 100 folks ordered out of the world have accepted the provide.

“As of 6 p.m. immediately, eight folks residing within the East Hastings encampment have requested shelter and have been accommodated. Additional shelter areas are being held for people who’ve left the encampment,” mentioned Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in a press release launched Wednesday night time.

“Shelter house availability is fluid in nature and we are going to proceed to work with authorities companions to determine further capability and make them accessible to these sheltering alongside East Hastings – for people with pets, metropolis workers have been working to attach them with pet-friendly shelters,” he added.

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“Additionally, teams have been working to ensure that access to all healthcare facilities and essential services within the encampment zone is maintained.”

Sim mentioned he additionally needed to acknowledge the work of BC Housing and the B.C. Ministry of Housing to make sure there was ample shelter house to fulfill demand.

“We are continuing to work with senior levels of government to secure permanent, quality housing for Vancouver’s most vulnerable residents – the first of the 330 units recently announced by the Provincial Government are set to come online in the coming days.”

Not sufficient shelter or housing areas: City Manager

However, in an earlier news convention alongside the mayor, Vancouver City Manager Paul Mochrie admitted there are usually not sufficient instant areas if everybody residing within the practically 200 buildings alongside the road accepted a suggestion of shelter.

“We do know that there are individuals sheltering outdoors along Hastings Street who have declined options for SRO units or shelter spaces. We recognize that shelters are not a substitute for permanent housing, but they are warmer and clearly safer than situations in this encampment,” mentioned Mochrie.

“As longer term housing comes online … we will continue to work to connect those within our shelter system to those options.”

While a few of those that have been evicted have refused provides of shelter house for numerous causes, Mochrie says many earlier campers have accepted.

“Since August, over 90 people have moved from the Hastings Street corridor into permanent housing and another 160 people have accepted referrals to shelters.”

While encouraging extra folks to reap the benefits of shelter house, Mochrie referred to as it a crucial alternative for folks to attach with service suppliers and transition to housing placements.

“In the meantime, we are going to continue working to ensure that people who are experiencing homelessness have the supports they need, including access to storage for their personal belongings, washrooms, and food.”

Decampment efforts on East Hastings Street ramped up Wednesday when dozens of cops have been deployed to help metropolis crews to get residents to clear their belongings.

Community members and officers voiced considerations relating to the decampment Wednesday, with each the B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner and Federal Housing Advocate chiming in.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) issued a Fire Chief’s Order in July 2022 to take away tents and buildings alongside the road to handle “fire, life, and safety concerns.”

Mochrie mentioned the town’s engineering crews will “continue to do the work that they do every day” to take away shelters and tents alongside sidewalks, that are “contrary to city bylaws.”

He confirmed the town will proceed to request help from VPD “as necessary.”

–With information from Michael Williams and Emily Marsten

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