Housing Minister Rich Coleman was flabbergasted at the angry response to his solution to the Victoria courthouse 香蕉视频直播渢ent city,香蕉视频直播� the latest tarp-covered camp to spring up in southern B.C.
Coleman announced two temporary shelters with three meals a day and medical supports. One is a former nursing home close to the courthouse squat, conveniently located near panhandling and drug dealing spots as well as taxpayer-funded services. The other offers indoor or outdoor tent space at a former youth custody centre, with a dedicated downtown shuttle bus so these 香蕉视频直播渧ictims香蕉视频直播� of 香蕉视频直播渉omelessness香蕉视频直播� don香蕉视频直播檛 have to endure B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 most generous transit bus system.
We weren香蕉视频直播檛 consulted, said the indignant spokespeople for those bringing new-looking tents to take advantage of food and other handouts, offered in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 warmest climate by the province香蕉视频直播檚 most na茂ve local government.
But this was just a show for the media by our resident professional protesters, some of whom aren香蕉视频直播檛 really 香蕉视频直播渉omeless.香蕉视频直播�
After the reaction, which Coleman described as 香蕉视频直播渂izarre,香蕉视频直播� the combined 88 housing opportunities are being snapped up. Those on welfare will have to fork over their $375 monthly housing allowance, as the province continues to convert more housing and offer more rent subsidies.
It香蕉视频直播檚 no wonder that southern B.C. is the destination of choice. Coleman said it香蕉视频直播檚 always been a seasonal thing, but this winter has been the highest in a decade, largely due to an exodus of economic migrants from the downturn in Alberta, naturally heading for B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 most desirable real estate.
I asked him about two other homeless hotspots. , campers have ignored a city deadline to take down structures in a three-year-old camp, after temporary shelter and costly provincial supports were brought on. A courtroom and street confrontation looms with self-styled 香蕉视频直播渄rug war survivors香蕉视频直播� and their Vancouver legal help.
In Maple Ridge, a tent camp sprang up next to the local Salvation Army shelter, with people cycling through the shelter香蕉视频直播檚 15-day limit, camping and being fed until they could go back in.
Mayor Nicole Read, who has worked in Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Downtown Eastside, said Maple Ridge took on its own outreach, shelter and housing effort because the province香蕉视频直播檚 $1 million-a-year Salvation Army operation isn香蕉视频直播檛 working.
Coleman is not amused. He said he香蕉视频直播檚 had no complaints about Abbotsford香蕉视频直播檚 Salvation Army shelter, and Read is the only one griping. And no mayor is going to tell him how to spend provincial dollars. Maple Ridge now has two shelters with accompanying street drugs, prostitution and crime.
I asked Coleman about the 10-year-study led by Simon Fraser University researcher Julian Somers on the housing, outreach and services in Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Downtown Eastside. This is the heart of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渉ousing first香蕉视频直播� strategy, where the province has bought and renovated 30 香蕉视频直播渟ingle room occupancy香蕉视频直播� buildings, built another dozen and poured in every possible support, including the buyout of high-living executives at the Portland Hotel Society.
The study found that the hardest cases are worse off than ever, based on court, hospital and other service records, while the influx to the notorious Vancouver drug ghetto have tripled in 10 years.
香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 had a chance to go over that report yet, but I disagree with the assumption I香蕉视频直播檝e heard already, because I walk the Downtown Eastside,香蕉视频直播� Coleman said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if they do every few weeks to a month, but I've been doing it for about nine or 10 years and I can tell you it香蕉视频直播檚 a whole lot better down there.香蕉视频直播�
The question is whether problems are being solved, or just better hidden from view.
Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca Twitter: @tomfletcherbc
