The president of the Union Gospel Mission says VancouverB次元官网网址檚 forced shutdown of an encampment has added another layer of stress to its staff as they put mats in hallways for the overflow of those needing shelter.
Dean Kurpjuweit said Monday their shelter has been at capacity for the last few months, but they had to go over the limit the last few nights to accommodate everyone.
B次元官网网址淲e have got a number of rooms where we put people in bunk beds and then we have kind of a common space where we put down mats and then in the hallways that lead to the rooms, we put some mats down there,B次元官网网址� said Kurpjuweit.
Vancouver police and city staff moved into the Downtown Eastside encampment last Wednesday to dismantle and throw away belongings, tents and other structures that lined the sidewalks on Hastings Street.
Mayor Ken Sim, along with the fire and police chiefs, said the fire danger and increased crime meant the encampment had to be dismantled.
Kurpjuweit said they did all they could to give people a warm, dry place to stay, but they still had to turn some away.
B次元官网网址淲e all understand that encampments are less than ideal, but on the same hand, if you are going to do that, you need to have enough spots for people to go to and there are not enough spots.B次元官网网址�
The Union Gospel Mission has been reaching out to fellow organizations to find spaces for these people, including the First United Church and the Salvation Army.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, everybody seems to be at the same point we are, which is more people than we have space,B次元官网网址� said Kurpjuweit.
He said whenever they are over capacity, and more people are asking to stay, itB次元官网网址檚 stressful for them.
B次元官网网址淓verything just kind of gets amplified a little bit more.B次元官网网址�
Members of the group Stop the Sweeps Coalition were distributing coffee, snacks, tents and blankets to people at Oppenheimer Park on Monday.
Ryan Sudds, an organizer with the group, said some residents he spoke with had returned to Hastings Street over the weekend, but city crews chased them out again.
B次元官网网址淲hen the city was coming around yesterday in the rain, people were angry, people were upset, people were fed up. It has been five days now and people are getting angrier and angrier about whatB次元官网网址檚 happening,B次元官网网址� said Sudds.
He said many of those who were on Hastings Street are taking what is left of their belongings and setting up in other areas.
B次元官网网址淔or the folks who are getting displaced on the block, and they donB次元官网网址檛 have shelter or housing, the city isnB次元官网网址檛 offering them anything besides maybe (suggesting) B次元官网网址榶ou can go to the CRAB Park,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Sudds.
The Union Gospel Mission has offered the unhoused blankets, toiletries, clothes and Easter meals.
Kurpjuweit said those are just a B次元官网网址渢emporary reprieve from the circumstances.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to continue to advocate for permanent solutions to get all of our community members housed, and in a place where they can live independent lives.B次元官网网址�
Sim said during a news conference last week that the longer the street camp continues, the higher the odds that more people will lose their lives and even more people will lose their homes to the fire hazard.
B次元官网网址擭ono Shen, The Canadian Press
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