A series of tweaks to Victoria bylaws aims to aid in understanding where sheltering in city spaces is allowed, and hone the long-held desire to strike a balance between park users.

The series of changes proposed for the parks regulation bylaw, outlined by the city solicitor, for council sitting as committee on March 13 includes replacing the definition of B次元官网网址渉omeless personB次元官网网址� with B次元官网网址減erson experiencing homelessnessB次元官网网址� to conform with recent court decisions.

Another simplification, in accordance with court decisions, includes defining B次元官网网址渢emporary overnight shelterB次元官网网址� as overhead protection used by persons experiencing homelessness to prevent exposure to the elements.

B次元官网网址淭his is an important piece of work because it provides clarity not just to the public and to persons experiencing homelessness but also to the many staff people employed by the city and not-for-profits and by volunteers frankly to understand more concisely just what the parameters are,B次元官网网址� Mayor Marianne Alto said.

The tweaks include expressly prohibiting sheltering in all parks, except for a list of 34, in the limited circumstances as directed by court decisions.

The allowable spaces are Alexander Park, Alston Green, Banfield Park, Barnard Park, Begbie Green, Begbie Parkway, Blackwood Green, Bushby Park, Chapman Park, Charles Redfern Park, Clawthorpe Avenue Park,Clover Point, Ernest Todd Park, Fisherman's Wharf Park, Gonzales Beach Park, Gower Park, Holland Point Park, Jackson Street Park, xix. Johnson Street Green, Lime Bay Park, Mary Street Park, Mayfair Green/Tolmie Park, Oaklands Park, Olive Street Green, Oswald Park, Pemberton Park, Redfern Park, Rupert Terrace Green, Scurrah Green, Selkirk Green, Shelbourne Green, Sitkum Park, Songhees Hillside Park and William Stevenson Memorial Park.

B次元官网网址淚 think that having a list of places where people experiencing homelessness can shelter versus where they cannot shelter when thereB次元官网网址檚 nowhere else to go is more straightforward,B次元官网网址� Loughton said.

The changes would include increasing the mandatory distance between playgrounds and temporary overnight shelters from eight metres to 15.

For Alto, the standout is the change that would expressly prohibit any local government or public authority from directing anyone experiencing homelessness to shelter in a park B次元官网网址� or sending or bringing them to Victoria B次元官网网址� without first securing them accessible shelter or housing.

B次元官网网址淭hat is the very clear statement, that the City of Victoria will no longer accept the placement of individuals in parks when they are placed there by organizations who have the authority to care for them themselves, whether that is another government or public authority, for example, Island Health. That is no longer acceptable,B次元官网网址� Alto said, calling a B次元官网网址渄eclaration of what is expected from our colleagues.B次元官网网址�

The example of what municipalities can and should provide for health and housing care was echoed around the table.

B次元官网网址淭his is really critical. ItB次元官网网址檚 arguably a big part of the problem that we have in Victoria, in that we support the region with the service that we provide to unhoused people,B次元官网网址� agreed Coun. Krista Loughton. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important for people to understand the municipalities have no means to provide housing and healthcare B次元官网网址� We cannot take this abdication of responsibly from upper levels of government lying down; we have to fight back.B次元官网网址�

Recommending anyone interested in the topic read the full 38-page report, Coun. Dave Thompson noted the city provides land use approval.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 its role in homelessness,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople need places to go because otherwise, theyB次元官网网址檙e going to end up on sidewalks and doorways. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not going to magically disappear. The city is not going to magically create supportive housing or mental health care, hospitals or detox and treatment facilities because cities canB次元官网网址檛, but I hope to see a lot more of the above.B次元官网网址�