Login / RegisterFormer United Nations official disturbed by impact of 2010 Olympics on housing
More than two years ago, Miloon Kothari visited Vancouver as the United Nations special rapporteur on adequate housing.
Back then, after taking a morning walk in the Downtown Eastside, Kothari told the Straight that what he saw and heard was “very disturbing”.
He went on to write a report that noted Canada is one of a few countries in the world that don’t have a national housing strategy.
Kothari is no longer the UN special rapporteur on housing, but when he returned to Vancouver a few days ago for a lecture at UBC, he decided to follow up on the situation that brought him here in October 2007.
On a mobile phone from the Downtown Eastside today (November 27), Kothari recalled that when he met Olympic organizers two years ago, they promised that the 2010 Winter Games will leave a positive legacy for housing.
“Clearly, that has not happened,” Kothari said. “There are a lot of broken promises.”
He is particularly distressed by a new law passed by the B.C. legislative assembly that authorizes police to sweep homeless people into shelters during extreme weather conditions.
“I consider it to be a draconian piece of legislation, which I hope will receive...a court challenge,” Kothari said of the Assistance to Shelter Act. “I don’t think it’s consistent with the charter [of rights and freedoms] of Canada. I find it very disturbing that this kind of legislation comes into place precisely at the time when there is this fear of a cleanup on the streets because of the Olympics.”
Kothari noted that he met with Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson yesterday morning (November 26).
“He of course seems to be very sincere and committed, but he seems to have his hands tied because of pressure from the province,” the former UN official said. “He did express his own displeasure with the Assistance to Shelter Act.”
Kothari foresees grim prospects for Vancouverites who desperately need a roof over their heads.
“I don’t know how it’s going to play out in the coming months, but it doesn’t look good,” he said.
Kothari leaves for Toronto on Sunday (November 29).
This out of Towner forgot to mention the twenty new buildings that the same government has scrambled to open in the last few years. The Carl rooms the Pennsylvania the lux these are just a few off the top of my head. The homeless count here in our city continues to climb because we have a come as you are policy, bring your baggage as well. I have a house here in east van of the eight formally homeless men that live there I am the only locally born resident talk about marginalized two are first nation, three are duo diagnosis one is over sixty five, all are addicts in recovery one of the men said he spent 267 continuous days in a shelter. KEY POINT how many new people arrive on our cities doorstep. Dose anyone know or even care we probably should have a look at this unknown fact and consider it as a possible reason we can never catch up, with the steady flow of homeless we have here in Vancouver. The government or the taxpayers who support this cause with hard earned dollars never get the thanks or recognition they deserve.
And as for the criticisms of the assistance to shelter act, I just hope it isn't necessary for some more people to set fire to themselves or freeze on the street to bring some common sense to this discussion.
Outside lookes beautiful
Inside is disgusting
European Tourist in 2009