The days could be numbered for a controversial tent city in East Vancouver.
The city revealed Thursday that it’s applied for a B.C. Supreme Court injunction to dismantle the camp, which was set up in Oppenheimer Park in July.
Mayor Gregor Robertson blamed worsening weather, deteriorating living conditions, and incidents involving weapons for the decision to seek an injunction, which is also how City Hall put an end to the Occupy Vancouver encampment in 2011.
“There’s a really challenging situation there with people, as we saw with Occupy, moving into the site who aren’t homeless but are causing more trouble,” Robertson said.
“Constant presence is required from police and fire and they’ve come forward saying it’s time for this to end, for health and safety to be upheld.”
People living in the park were handed copies of the injunction on Thursday and told they have until Monday to clear out.
According to a city press release, there are shelter spaces available for camp residents who want them, and 40 homeless people have already been moved from Oppenheimer Park into housing.
Another 50 people remain at the camp, by the city’s count.
“Throughout the past weeks, senior City officials have met with camp leadership on a regular basis to discuss their concerns,” the release said. “The City has been working on all of these issues.”
The main problems discussed related to homelessness, the conditions in single-room occupancy hotels, and the need for an Aboriginal Healing Centre, the city said.
