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North Park residents ask Victoria-Beacon Hill candidates for Central Park encampment solutions

Neighbours living around Central Park, where about 100 people without homes are ­sheltering, are asking the Victoria-Beacon Hill provincial election candidates for immediate solutions so that people have a roof over their head before a cold and wet w
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VICTORIA, B.C.: OCTOBER 10, 2020-Central Park homeless camp in Victoria, B.C. October 10, 2020. (DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST). For City story by Katie DeRosa.

Neighbours living around Central Park, where about 100 people without homes are ­sheltering, are asking the Victoria-Beacon Hill provincial election candidates for immediate solutions so that people have a roof over their head before a cold and wet winter sets in.

“We are extremely concerned about the safety of the park both for the vulnerable people sheltering in the park and for the people living around the park,” said Aaron Childs, a father of three who lives half a block from Central Park, beside ­Crystal Pool on Quadra Street. His oldest daughter, who is eight, held a sign that said, “I want to play here again.” Childs said he wants whoever forms the next ­provincial government to ­provide emergency shelter for people living in tents in the park.

A neighbourhood group called Friends of Central Park invited NDP candidate Grace Lore, ­Liberal candidate Karen Bill and Green candidate Jenn Neilson to an outdoor meeting in front of Crystal Pool on the weekend. Only Neilson attended; however, Lore said she had been speaking with the group over email and heard neighbours’ concerns at the North Park Neighbourhood Association meeting last week.

Neilson, a community and social justice advocate, said in a wealthy province such as British Columbia, no one should ever have to sleep in a park. She said even those who have been ­provided emergency housing in former hotels have not been given appropriate social care.

Neilson said the provincial government, in partnership with the federal government, has the power to take control of vacant buildings which can be used for emergency supportive housing which should have wrap-around supports including mental health and addiction services.

“Thank you for forcing the people seeking election in this riding to talk about this issue,” Neilson told about 20 people gathered in front of Crystal Pool. “Because the province is not doing enough.”

Since May, at least 500 people have moved into temporary ­shelter secured by B.C. Housing to prevent the spread of COVID‑19 among people without homes. B.C. Housing has spent millions of dollars to buy and lease hotels. Hotels it has converted into temporary supportive housing include the Travelodge at 123 Gorge Rd. East, the Howard Johnson at 310 Gorge Rd. East, the Comfort Inn and Suites on Blanshard Street, and the former Paul’s Motor Inn on Douglas Street.

Bill, the the Liberal candidate and a public policy specialist, said her party’s platform includes increasing funding for mental health and addiction treatment beds and affordable housing so that people living in encampments have a safe place to live.

“Twenty-four seven camping isn’t working,” Bill said. “It doesn’t work for residents, it doesn’t work for those who need treatment.”

Bill said a Liberal government would spend $58 million to hire 100 psychiatric social workers and registered nurses to work alongside police on mental health calls. The Liberals also promised to hire 200 more police officers to fill vacancies across British Columbia. Bill said encampments have become rife with criminal activity as people prey on the more vulnerable.

Bill also pointed to the situation in Beacon Hill Park — where a neighbourhood group is going to court to remove campers — as proof that the NDP government has not done enough to deal with a worsening situation.

“The encampments are spreading and Central Park is just one of more that are certainly happening,” she said. “People don’t feel safe.”

Lore said it’s clear the situation in Central Park is not working for neighbours and it’s not providing wrap-around care that people without homes need. Lore’s family lives in Fernwood and her oldest child, six-year-old Eve, is in Grade 1 at George Jay elementary so she understands the neighbours’ concerns.

She said an NDP government would expedite and continue the investment in affordable and supportive housing. “This has to be the top of the priority list,” said Lore, a community organizer and lecturer at the ­University of Victoria. “There’s a need here to do the long term work that was neglected for a decade and a half. At the same time, neighbours need us to work on the short term.”

Lore said B.C. Housing, the City of Victoria, the federal government and local non-profits need to work together to develop an immediate cold and wet weather plan so that, until long-term housing can be found for people living outside, they have a warm and dry place to shelter.

A man named Jason, who lives in a tent in the park, asked ­Neilson at the meeting why people without homes can’t be given a living wage so they can afford to rent an apartment. He said without access to electricity or running water in the park, he can’t maintain basic hygiene in order to go to work. Jason said on Friday night, his friend caught himself on fire and burned a hole in his tent while lighting a candle to keep warm. “How am I going to keep myself warm [this winter]?” Jason asked.

Bill, Lore, Neilson and independent candidate Jordan Reichert are running to replace deputy premier Carole James, who has held the seat since 2005. James announced in March that she would not be seeking re-election following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

kderosa@timescolonist.com