A ban on overnight sheltering in four more Victoria parks is now in effect, after council moved ahead with the bylaw, along with expanding the role of its parks relocation co-ordinator to help shift people away from tenting on sidewalks and boulevards.
The overnight sheltering ban — already in effect at Beacon Hill and Central parks — was extended to Stadacona, Topaz, Hollywood and Regatta Point parks, after council directed city staff to work with Pacifica Housing to help transition campers away from not just parks but sidewalks, streets and boulevards.
No tenters were seen camping in the four parks on Thursday.
Staff has also been asked to report back on the best approach to the issue of people sheltering in parks and other public places, which isn’t expected to come until early next year.
Coun. Dave Thompson said the city needs to get the “best, most rational recommendations” about where sheltering should and shouldn’t be allowed. “This shouldn’t be about picking favourites. It should be about taking careful consideration.”
Coun. Chris Coleman said expanding the role of the relocation co-ordinator is another step toward the ultimate goal of prohibiting sheltering in parks as compassionately as possible. “It’s eminently supportable because I think there’s demonstrable impacts of a very positive nature on the lives of some of those people who have moved to either better sheltering or permanent housing,” he said.
Coun. Krista Loughton said council also needs to keep an eye on the immediate need to improve winter shelter options.
Loughton, who has been pushing to convert extreme-weather shelters into permanently open seasonal shelters, said dropping temperatures are affecting people currently sheltering on sidewalks and parks.
Prior to the parks sheltering ban coming into effect, the relocation co-ordinator was asked to offer housing, better shelter or housing assistance to the 16 people who were sheltering in the four parks in June.
A B.C. Court of Appeal ruling in 2009 found that in the absence of available shelter beds, it’s unconstitutional to prohibit someone from erecting temporary shelter in a park.
A city bylaw allows people experiencing homelessness to shelter overnight in designated parks only from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., but neighbourhood residents have complained the bylaw is not being enforced and campers are keeping their gear around all day.
Only five parks with washroom facilities will continue to allow overnight sheltering — Irving Park, Vic West Park, Pemberton Park, Gonzales Park and Oaklands Park
There are several parks without washroom facilities where sheltering is allowed.
