Mayor Richard Atwell said he would like see to a B次元官网网址渜uick endB次元官网网址� to the homeless camp that has sprung up near Uptown, but also cautioned against heightened expectations as Saanich responds to concerns from the nearby camp. One of its spokesperson, meanwhile, repeated demands for Saanich to create more affordable housing.
Speaking with local media including Saanich B次元官网网址, Atwell said he hopes the camp in Regina Park does not stay for the summer. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very unfair on the neighbours,B次元官网网址� he said.
Atwell added later that the camp could also pose a fire hazard as the dry summer months approach. At the same time, he expressed sympathy for the campers, and said Saanich has no plans to push the camp to neighbouring communities.
B次元官网网址淲e need to find some solution that is going to get people out of the park, and into some proper accommodations,B次元官网网址� he said.
He stressed though that this B次元官网网址渨onB次元官网网址檛 happen overnight.B次元官网网址� It would also have to involve senior levels of government, said Atwell, who plans to meet the local MLA Rob Fleming to discuss options.
According to Megan Catalano, a spokesperson for the District of Saanich, the municipality has received less than 20 letters, emails and phone calls from residents about Regina Park.
B次元官网网址淥f the correspondence and inquiries weB次元官网网址檝e received, many have expressed concern about public safety in the area surrounding Regina Park and asked questions about our plans to deal with the encampment,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪ome correspondence has taken the position of advocate for homelessness and housing issues.B次元官网网址�
This commentary echoes concerns that the Saanich B次元官网网址 has heard from residents living the area. In correspondence to the Saanich B次元官网网址, one resident has complained about an B次元官网网址渋ncrease of theft.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪ome of us have been the target of verbal threats, racial taunts, property damage and an uneasy feeling about our safety,B次元官网网址� wrote another resident.
Sgt. Jereme Leslie said Saanich Police have received complaints from the public about the camp. B次元官网网址淗owever, a number of these complaints are general inquiries which the District of Saanich is able to answer,B次元官网网址� he said.
Year-to-date calls in this area and the surrounding neighbourhood have gone up about 13 per cent, said Leslie.
B次元官网网址淔rom May 1 through to [June 4] the biggest B次元官网网址渏umpB次元官网网址� is theft from vehicles,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e had one last year and five this year. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also a sizable increase of B次元官网网址渁ssist publicB次元官网网址� calls B次元官网网址� 11 last year and 35 this year. The assist public calls really can range in what they actually are; however, thereB次元官网网址檚 no criminal activity scored in these files.B次元官网网址�
Leslie said it is important for the public to know that Saanich Police have increased patrols in the area.B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檝e even assigned officers to specifically focus on Regina Park and the surrounding neighbourhoods,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hopeful this enhanced focus, and with residents help by calling in suspicious activities, weB次元官网网址檒l be able to deal with criminal activity in the area.B次元官网网址�
Chrissy Brett, one of the leaders of the camp, said Saanich needs to step up if it wants to find a solution.
B次元官网网址淲e have 57 people who are registered, and you can build 90 units [of modular housing] in 90 days,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hat would be a quick end.B次元官网网址�
Responding to AtwellB次元官网网址檚 concerns about fire, Brett said she is encouraging Saanich to find a more suitable place in the district for the campers, like a municipal campground, until a permanent solution has emerged.
As for concerns from the neighbours, Brett offered this response. B次元官网网址淲hen we in Canada consider ourselves a First World country, and yet, can make homeless and Indigenous people live in Third World conditions, they can continue to say what they need to say. But in our culture, nobody is left behind.B次元官网网址�
