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
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.