“What do we want? Gregor! When do we want him? Now!”
That’s what homeless advocates chanted at the door of city council Tuesday and they ended up getting their wish.
The group wanted Mayor Gregor Robertson to promise that land at 58 West Hastings Street, which is owned by the city, will be turned into social housing.
More than 50 people have been sleeping at the site on the Downtown Eastside since Saturday. After waiting more than five hours, some of them met with Robertson Tuesday afternoon, asking him to set up toilets and washing stations at the encampment. The mayor refused.
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“We’ve seen this movie before and it never ends well,” Robertson said.
City officials offered to find shelter for the campers but said without money from the federal and provincial governments, permanent housing at the site is still a long way off.
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