Vancouver Tent City to Temporarily Close Over Unsafe and Unhygienic Conditions

Temporary Closure of Vancouver Tent City due to Unsafe and Unhygienic Conditions

March 12, 2024 TruthUSA

Vancouver officials have announced that the homeless residents staying at the city’s only legal encampment must temporarily relocate due to safety and hygiene concerns.

Deputy city manager Sandra Singh explained that the area of Crab Park where the tent city is located will be closed for a week starting on March 25th to allow for cleanup and removal of debris and unsafe structures.

Singh emphasized that this temporary move is not a complete eviction, as the 30 to 50 individuals currently residing at the site will be permitted to return after being relocated to a different part of the park.

However, residents of the park are requesting to postpone discussions about leaving until a pending human rights complaint, alleging inadequate provision of basic necessities like washrooms and electricity, is resolved.

If the residents fail to adhere to the rules, such as refraining from bringing in propane tanks after the cleanup, the city will have to reconsider allowing the encampment to continue.

The encampment first began in 2021 and persisted a year later when a B.C. Supreme Court judge invalidated eviction notices due to the city’s insufficient indoor shelter capacity for those in tents.