A group of homeless people who pitched tents in a B.C. provincial park near Victoria are expected to move into approved shelters and living spaces before a government-imposed deadline, Housing Minister Selina Robinson said Monday.
However, homeless camp spokesperson Chrissy Brett said many members of the group want to live together and are considering moving together to other locations in the Victoria area, including Langford, Saanich and Oak Bay. The campers have previously stayed in those communities over the past year.
Yes, weB次元官网网址檙e all going to have a place to stay because weB次元官网网址檙e going to stay together,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what has kept people together this long is a sense of community and a sense of family.B次元官网网址�
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Robinson said people have started moving out of Goldstream Provincial Park and she was confident all members of the group of about 20 campers will be living in new spaces by Tuesday. The parkB次元官网网址檚 campground has been closed since the homeless campers arrived Sept. 20.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 convinced that people will want to leave,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that meetings with government support and outreach workers over the past week have addressed many of the needs of the campers, including housing.
B次元官网网址淎ll of the people whoB次元官网网址檝e been at Goldstream for the last couple of weeks will be in places that are better for them,B次元官网网址� Robinson said. B次元官网网址淪afer, warmer, drier, with supports.B次元官网网址� Steps will also be taken by officials to reopen the park, she said. A spokeswoman for the homeless people at Goldstream said the group plans to leave the park Tuesday morning, but not everybody will move into the housing options the government is providing.
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The campers arrived at Goldstream park days after they were ousted from provincially owned land in nearby Saanich. Earlier last summer, Saanich used a court order to force the campers from another park that some had occupied since the spring.
On Thursday, the government said campers choosing to staying in the park past Tuesday would be evicted. Some local residents have said they were concerned about potential damage to the park. Heidi Hartman, BC Housing regional director, said the campers can be housed at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, which has 25 spaces, and at other facilities in the Victoria area that can accommodate groups, couples and others with care and support needs.
B次元官网网址淲e recognize that thereB次元官网网址檚 a diverse group out at the camp and we really want to make sure the folks are met with the supports they need,B次元官网网址� she said. Hartman said a storage container was placed at the campground and people were helping the campers with their belongings, which are being transported to downtown Victoria.
Goldstream Park is located within Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 Langford-Juan de Fuca riding. The park is known for its huge 600-year-old Douglas fir trees and western red cedars. The parkB次元官网网址檚 day use area has remained open.
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