Tent city residents who expected to start moving into new supported housing at the former Central Care Home on Johnson Street this week will have to stay on the Victoria courthouse lawn for several more days.
“We are working to improve safety and security aspects of the building so residents will start moving in the first week of August,” the province said Wednesday in a statement.
The delay will allow B.C. Housing to “improve safety and security aspects of the building,” said an email to the Times Colonist.
On July 5, B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson ruled in favour of a bid by the province, which owns the courthouse property at Burdett Avenue and Quadra Street, to close the tent city camp based on evidence of deterioration and safety concerns.
Hinkson ordered that the dismantling of tent city begin immediately and all structures be cleared and residents moved by no later than Aug. 8, when the 140-unit Central Care Home, at 844 Johnson St., is to be ready. The camp is surrounded by tall wire fences to keep new campers from moving in, and several garbage bins are lined up on the street.
Chrissie Brett, who often speaks for camp residents, said Wednesday evening that there is a lack of information.
“They need to communicate what’s really going on to the residents, not to the media and the general public,” said Brett, who sleeps at tent city most nights, playing the role of advocate, but also has a basement apartment that she shares with two children.
Not hearing about delays from the source “creates instability and uncertainty in people who have never had stability,” she said.
B.C. Housing is taking longer than expected to convert the building from a seniors facility, the province said. For instance, bathtubs designed for people with mobility challenges are being replaced with showers.
The delay is also related to the installation of cameras and fencing to address security and privacy concerns. “This will help staff maintain a secure and safe environment and address concerns voiced by neighbours of the building,” the province said.
Despite the delays, the province expects to meet the Aug. 8 deadline, after which the camp will be cleared. Any others living in the tent city are expected to vacate by then under the terms of the court order sought by the province.
Progress is being made on the dismantling of the encampment, the province said. The Portland Hotel Society, which will manage the new housing, “is working with people in the camp to ensure successful transition.”
It was expected that 10 or so people would move into Central every day this week. Pushing the schedule to next week means intake per day will have to rise to meet the deadline.
$26 million from province
The province has invested $26 million to provide housing for people living in tent city. That money has funded the purchase of several Victoria buildings for housing homeless people in recent months and supported the operation of several other shelters. All operating costs are as of June 2016.
New housing
• Central Care Home, Johnson Street — $13.5 million
• Super 8 hotel, Douglas Street — $6.5 million
• Mount Edwards Court Care Home, Vancouver Street — $3.9 million, plus $487,000 in operating costs
Shelter operation
• Choices, View Royal — $704,000
• My Place, Yates Street — $647,000
• First Metropolitan United Church overnight shelter on Quadra Street — $330,000 for more mats
