The Vancouver Police raided Hastings Street arresting the homeless and activists. Where these folks live in the tent cities go when they are constantly displaced. Former mayor Gregory Roberts promised to end homelessness. Well he no longer mayor and homelessness has not gone away.
Moving another tent city will not make them go away, they will go elsewhere as they always have. Seattle City Council permits tent cities and Mayor Ed Murrays proposal to permit three more camps. They are supported with wrap around supports provided by social service organizations and keep the campers safe. “Permitted encampments are not, in my view, a long-term strategy to end homelessness”, says Murray.
Tiny house villages have made a big difference in helping homeless people transition off the streets says Washington Governor Jay Inslee who has pledged to build more. “We’re trying to get $350 million from the legislature this year,” he said. “To accelerate this type of housing.”
The Mayor’s Vancouver displacement plan will displace many people by encouraging landlords to tear down older apartment buildings and replace them by tall towers to come back a few years later in a new building in the same location and pay the same rent. I am one of those people. Where are we supposed to live in the meantime? Where will we find a place that is affordable and convenient?
We need a mayor and city council that is committed to housing people, not displacing them. We need a mayor and council that will build more affordable rental housing. I asked the mayor once what he plans to do with the people displaced by the Broadway line? He said, build social housing. Where is his social housing plan?
Imtiaz Popat is running for Mayor of Vancouver as an independent. He is a long time equal rights and social justice activist and the therapeutic counsellor.
Imtiaz Popat 