Six months since MOU between BC and City

Since the MOU was signed, BC Housing has snapped up a number of downtown hotels such as the North Star Inn. But advocate Philip Fredricksson says little else has been provided by way of supports from BC Housing.

“We’ve actually had services taken away, so we had six Porta Potties for the last couple of months down here and they were removed on December 21st, right before the long weekend of Christmas. We thought they would be coming back after Christmas. It’s January and still, no. Absolutely no.”

While B.C. Housing is working towards supportive housing, the local advocacy group has been busy building temporary shelters despite the city moving in with Stop Work and Do Not Occupy orders.

“Is building structurally safe? Is the distance between each building? Is it okay from a fire spreading rating? Things of that nature? We need to do that,” says Mayor Yu, in order to limit the City’s liability.

In the meantime, Fredricksson and crew have no interest in providing housing, though there is a move afoot on another front.

“We have started a campaign called End Homelessness Canada. You can find us on Facebook or each EHCM, and that’s our movement. So you can jump on board and get involved and hopefully we can find a solution to this because it’s become very clear that the three tiers of government can’t pull themselves together to solve this problem.”

Also, B.C. municipalities are fighting Bill 45, which mimics a court ruling in Prince George, forcing municipalities seeking an injunction to remove an encampment to provide evidence that there is reasonably available shelter space.

by Cheryl Jahn

Six months since MOU between BC and City

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