'Where should I go?' Downtown East Side rally opposes tent city eviction

"Where should I go?"

This is Tuesday, defending residents of theDowntown East Side and Vancouver's homeless population. It was a question from people. His 100 block in East Hastings entered his second week.

READ MORE: State responds to removal of Hastings Street tent city, access to housing 'restricted'

In front of a large banner inscribed with standing questions, the speaker announces the removal of sidewalk structures due to fire and life safety hazards. Following orders from the city's fire chief, he vented his frustrations over the "camp clearing" that began last Tuesday.

," Eli, the organizer of the sweep, told the crowd.

"Instead of treating the root cause of the disease, we are punishing those who suffer from the symptoms." 32}

READ MORE: 'Consideration Needed': Hastings Street Tensions Rise Over Tent Removal

Vancouver police stopped assisting city officials in conducting daily "street sweeps" along Hastings Street in early July, and in the next seven weeks, dense encampments were built along the route. .

Although the city insists that sweeping is necessary to remove trash and debris from the area, DTES supporters say crew members regularly bring out people's tents and supplies and

And it crushes them to the bone,” said Eli.

News has reached out to the city for comment.

Since the beginning of the year, he has had over 1,000 fires and damage in the area. A recent fire delayed the crew due to combustible material around the hydrant.

Efforts to remove structures from streets appear to have stalled, with City of Vancouver's final statement focusing on voluntary tent removal and educating people about personal effects storage options.

Read more: East Hastings Street is thrown into chaos as Vancouver staff begin tearing down tents.

issued a statement on the matter late Friday, confirming that BC Housing does not have the space to accommodate all those displaced on the streets.

"They gave us a bin to put our personal stuff—our most important stuff—so we're safe," said a woman named Maggie. "We are treated like trash. Garbage."

"I am an addict. I am proud to be an addict. 'cause we're addicts on the Lower East Side," added the man who calls himself Edgar.

Other speakers discussed how decamping disproportionately targets indigenous peoples. Focused on whether there is Someone who formed a community on the Downtown East Side.

Houses intact and together. They were kicked out of Strathcona Park, they were kicked out of Oppenheimer Park too...and that's why they're here," said BC Indian Chiefs Union Secretary and Treasurer Kukpi 7 Judy Wilson. .

"This is a strategic move by the government, pushing them out of one place or another. We are standing at our last stand."

Buildings removal was to begin with the areas of greatest risk. One location was in front of the Regent Hotel, but on day one, events erupted into riots after unrelated police called a man who had destroyed a computer at the nearby Carnegie Center. Crowds formed, turning an already tense situation into a brawl.

The front of the Regent is still crowded with tents, and city officials are concentrated in the lower blocks. seems to be Fire departments are dispatched to the area every day. Progress is being made, but Vancouver Fire says it's lagging behind.

In a statement Friday, the state said he was working with the BC Housing Outreach Team to provide a "limited number of spaces available" and single room occupancy (SRO) hotels. said they are trying out the renovation for free. more up.

READ MORE: Man in wheelchair stabbed amid heightened tension in tent city on East Hastings Street

We will have a "limited number" of units available by this week.

Meanwhile, there are supporters like the Vancouver Coun. Gene Swanson is calling on all three levels of government to invest heavily in housing.

Until then, she says the city should suspend camps and provide basic facilities such as toilets, safety patrols and food.

"People need a place to go before they are exiled. There is no place for them to go. We need to keep them safe until they have a place to go," she said.

"They are on Main Street, Water Street, Granville Street, Adanac Street, Commercial Street. Where do you think people go if you move them? They have to go somewhere."

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