Municipal Election

COPE proposes permanent tent city in Vancouver

by Stephen Hui on October 7th, 2014 at 2:21 PM
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      With the City of Vancouver attempting to evict campers from Oppenheimer Park, the Coalition of Progressive Electors is rallying behind the idea of establishing a permanent tent city.

      "We have to look at a possible permanent space for a tent city as has been done in Seattle, Portland and other cities," COPE park board candidate Imtiaz Popat said in a news release. “Why isn’t the Park Board even looking at this option?”

      Popat and fellow COPE park board candidate Ezra Bloom both called on the city to drop its pursuit of an injunction that would allow it to clear campers, who are seeking affordable housing, from the park.

      “Many of the campers do not want to live in temporary shelters, neglected SROs, or alleyways. Dispersing them into these places increases their exposure to violence, insecurity, and rat and bedbug infestations,” Bloom said in the release. "Forcing citizens of this city into into unsafe housing conditions violates their basic freedoms."

      The tent city went up in mid July. The city served campers with an eviction notice on July 19, and the case entered the B.C. Supreme Court on September 29.

      Comments

      10 Comments

      OMG

      Oct 7, 2014 at 2:33pm

      “Why isn’t the Park Board even looking at this option?”

      Because it's a bad idea and hasn't worked in Seattle or Portland?

      Location, Location.

      Oct 7, 2014 at 2:44pm

      So, where does COPE propose this permanent tent city live? The tent city in Oregon is incorporated as a registered charity and is only allowed to set up on private land it has been invited to.

      Tent City

      Oct 7, 2014 at 2:52pm

      Okay, let's talk about how they plan on getting rid of poo and pee and garbage and needles. Let's talk about how they've already turned OP into an absolute dump. It's disgusting and selfish in the extreme.

      Let's talk about openly disobeying a judge and lighting fires (again). And let's talk about the loss of the park to everyone else.

      Bruce

      Oct 7, 2014 at 2:52pm

      For every step that Meena Wong takes COPE away from flakiness and toward credibility and votes, it can rely on the inimitable Imtiaz Popat and assoc to step it back.

      dave pasin

      Oct 7, 2014 at 4:45pm

      Wow. One word...
      Seriously?

      This is an abject lesson in how to lose.votesbw

      With I'll thought
      Out, poorly conceived ideas.
      How is making a permanent tent city resolving the issue of homelessness.
      Come on drop the ideological blinders guys and try to be at least somewhat creative

      Walker Evans

      Oct 7, 2014 at 4:50pm

      What an incredibly stupid idea. If you want to camp, go to a campground. This sounds like a cheap way to get out of providing housing. The bleeding hearts are vying for control of Vancouver. It's just politics.

      imtiaz Popat

      Oct 7, 2014 at 6:35pm

      It has worked in Seattle and other cities. There are four tent city cites in Washington State. It is not a solution to permenat housing, but it is an option to consider. There can washrooms, kitchen facilities and even community gardens to grow food. Where are these campers going to go tommorow when they are evicted from the Park? Sleep in the streets, allies and under bridges where they are not safe?

      Bill

      Oct 7, 2014 at 7:48pm

      Just get these campers to the many vacant houses around Vancouver.

      Imtiaz Popat

      Oct 7, 2014 at 11:48pm

      Shelters and accommodations have been proposed, but they are not ready yet. Better housing options need to be found. However, many people will still sleep in the streets, alleys and under bridges. Having a safe space for them to camp is a better solution. Park Board and City council have to work together to find space for for permanent tent cities like then have done south of boarder. Vancouver Park Board evicting when they have no place to go is irresponsible.

      OMG

      Oct 8, 2014 at 7:57am

      After thinking about it a bit more, I agree with Imitaz Popat that regardless of how much social housing there is, some people will prefer camping out and I can fully understand why. I'm sure even a percentage of them will never agree to living in a tent city and I believe that it's wrong to call them 'homeless'. They have a home.

      Tent cities are common around the world and usually go by the name 'refuge camps'. They aren't meant to be permanent, but often are in reality. The unfortunate part is that nobody wants to live anywhere near one, so putting them up in the downtown core will never fly. With land being so expensive it would not be cost effective.