The order by the Fire Commissioner of B.C. that the province dismantle tent city by June 23 puts campers and nearby residents in “a great deal of danger,” says a Together Against Poverty advocate.
A lawyer for TAPS filed a 20-page petition in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday to quash the commissioner’s order and was back in court Friday seeking an adjournment of the dismantling. The petition was filed in the name of camp residents Ana McBee, Doug Swait and Chrissy Brett.
TAPS advocate Stephen Portman said a decision is expected on June 24.
The fire commissioner has determined that conditions at the Burdett Street camp compromise campers’ safety, while Portman contends the undue haste of the order has the same effect.
“To make a fast order in the court to dismantle that camp before we can organize an orderly transition of people into housing, compromises the safety and security of the residents living there,” Portman said.
It’s also bad for the neighbourhood, he said. “Think about it — those people are all going to hit the sidewalk if this order goes ahead. What is that going to mean for the residents themselves and the neighbours? So we’re deeply concerned. That’s why we sought an adjournment.”
B.C. Fire Commissioner Gordon Anderson wrote to the province last week saying there is “no likelihood” that tent city residents can comply with safety regulations and there exists an “unacceptable” risk to live at the site.
TAPS’s petition was filed the same day B.C. Housing Minister Rich Coleman announced that the province had purchased the former Central Care Home, at 844 Johnson St., for $11.2 million to provide 140 units of long-term supportive housing. The province also has a deal on a second property that would provide an additional 50 units, he said.
Renovations will begin immediately with move-in readiness set for late July, with Coleman suggesting about 90 campers at tent city will leave once housing is available.
Portman said the province has “done the right thing” and that the new spaces will help many of those at the tent city.
“If the goal here of the province is to house people and the goal of the fire commissioner’s office is to ensure compliance of safety regulations, then the best thing that they could do is help us get this very crowded encampment into homes,” Portman said.
But moving people out of tent city before the housing is available “seems like a really bad move,” he said. “The fire commissioner’s office and the province of B.C. are taking an approach to housing the homeless that’s very dangerous.”
The fire order states a one-metre pathway — which does not exist — is required around each tent and that the exit pathways are not adequate.
Residents at the tent city have said they have tried to comply with the order but have not received any help or resources from authorities.
