Vancouver ending 'block stewardship' contract with Downtown Eastside group
The City of Vancouver is ending its contract with a Downtown Eastside organization that it hired to help keep streets in the neighbourhood clean.
The city's contract with Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users was scheduled to run for six months from July of this year to January 2023.
The purpose of the agreement, according to the city, was to implement a "Block Stewardship Pilot Program" for the zero through 300 blocks of East Hastings Street.
In a statement, the city said the contract aimed to "explore the potential for such a program to offer support for sidewalk cleanliness and as a potential alternative to requesting (Vancouver Police Department) support for street and traffic bylaw enforcement."
"After an interim assessment of the program, it is evident that VANDU placed emphasis on community development and individual empowerment rather than street cleaning," the statement continued.
"While this has value – and a forthcoming evaluation will provide further information for future consideration – the city requires a focus on cleaning, and as a transition, will engage with other community groups to provide cleaning services."
The contract was worth $320,000. It's unclear how much of that money had been spent through the first four months of the contract.
"In the coming weeks, a (request for proposals) opportunity will be made available to non-profits with capacity and experience working with communities experiencing marginalization to deliver focused cleaning programs," the city said in its statement.
"City crews will continue their daily efforts to clean the streets and remove material from the area."
The city thanked VANDU for "its efforts and work along East Hastings."
"We continue to work in close partnership with a variety of community organizations to balance the needs of those experiencing homelessness while addressing serious life, safety and fire risks in the area," the city said.
The presence of a tent city along the sidewalks of Hastings Street near Main Street has been a source of controversy for months.
In July, Vancouver's fire chief ordered the removal of tents from the sidewalk because of safety concerns, saying a fire in the area would quickly become "catastrophic."
Residents of the encampment have responded with protests and legal action, declaring that they have nowhere else to go.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Canadian government proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.