Victoria council will decide Thursday whether to ban overnight sheltering in four more city parks.
A staff report recommends passing a bylaw amendment prohibiting sheltering in Stadacona, Topaz, Hollywood and Regatta Point parks, and bringing the ban into force on Nov. 9. Sheltering is already banned in Beacon Hill Park and Central Park.
The report says Pacifica Housing, hired in the summer as parks relocation co-ordinator, has now fulfilled its mandate to offer housing assistance to the 16 people who were sheltering in Stadacona, Topaz, Hollywood and Regatta Point parks in June.
It says everyone on the list has either received housing or better shelter, is no longer sheltering in the parks, or has declined offers of housing assistance.
Council delayed passing the bylaw amendment in September so staff could determine the impact of the bylaw amendment.
Council could also extend the sheltering ban to Vic West Park and Irving Park in James Bay, a prospect that was previously raised at council.
Residents living near both of those parks have expressed concern about 24-hour encampments.
A number of Vic West residents recently told the Times Colonist that large portions of the park have not been usable for months because of campers.
Council has already agreed to extend Pacifica’s $25,000 contract as parks relocation co-ordinator, so it can continue to help transition campers from the parks. It’s also been asked to identify designated spaces in the city that could serve as alternatives to sheltering in parks, and spots where new supportive-housing projects could be established.
A B.C. Court of Appeal ruling in 2009 found that it’s unconstitutional to prohibit someone from erecting temporary shelter in a park in the absence of available shelter beds.
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.
If overnight sheltering ends up being banned in Topaz, Hollywood, Regatta Point, Stadacona, Vic West and Irving Parks, only three parks with washroom facilities will continue to allow overnight sheltering — Pemberton Park, Gonzales Park and Oaklands Park
There are several parks without washroom facilities where sheltering is allowed. The city also has 23 parks, including Beacon Hill Park, where sheltering is not allowed at any time.
