A growing tent city in the 100 block of East Hastings Street in Vancouver has been ordered to clean up.
Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry issued the order Friday, warning that the buildup of structures in the area posed a significant safety hazard.
“Should a fire occur in the area in its current state, it would be catastrophic, endangering lives and putting hundreds of much-needed housing units at risk,” the City of Vancouver said in a statement. press
Read more: Vancouver has a new tent city. This time it’s on the street, not a park
Tents and other temporary structures have long been a fixture of East Hastings Street, but the number of permanent tents and the scale of the encampment have grown rapidly since early July.
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That’s when Vancouver police stopped supporting city engineering workers who did daily so-called “street sweeps,” the controversial practice the city says is necessary to clean up trash and discarded items , but that some neighborhood advocates say involves targeting homeless people and taking their belongings.
Since then, some residents of the neighborhood have complained of difficulty accessing their buildings or even walking down the sidewalk.
The city said Monday that Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services would accelerate “structure removal planning” already underway to improve access to roads, sidewalks and buildings along with safety against fires
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“The situation is complex and the City will continue to take a thoughtful approach that considers the needs of those sheltering outdoors while we do this work,” the city said.
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“In the coming days, the City will work with the community, non-profit organizations and partner government organizations to expedite the removal of structures and provide additional support for those sheltering outdoors.”
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Daytime storage of personal items, more public restrooms, misting stations and hand-washing and drinking fountains are among the supports the city says it will offer.
In a statement of his own, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said he supported the order but recognized the impact it would have on DTES residents.
“The lack of housing and recent hot weather is forcing more and more people onto the streets, and across Hastings it has become dangerous for our most vulnerable neighbours,” Stewart posted on Twitter.
Read more: Man in wheelchair stabbed as tension rises in East Hastings Street tent city
“Should a fire occur in these conditions, the loss of life could be catastrophic.”
Stewart touted the city’s partnerships with higher levels of government to fund modular and noncommercial homes, but acknowledged that demand for affordable and supportive housing continues to outstrip supply.
“My office is in constant contact with senior levels of government in order to secure additional resources for additional investment in housing, particularly for those currently living on Hastings Street,” he said.
“In this particular case, I’m also asking nonprofit housing providers to assess the availability of housing within their portfolios.”
While Friday’s order specified the “immediate” removal of the structures, it was not immediately clear when the order would be enforced.
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In an email, Chief Fry said the fire department planned to “work with the city and community to mitigate this risk.”
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