WATCH: The City of Victoria’s plan to help homeless people find shelter is facing fierce opposition. Jill Bennett reports.
There are already people who sleep in Topaz Park, but that number could rise come October if a proposed tent city is set up in the greenspace located north of downtown Victoria.
Many residents who live near the park held a rally Saturday to voice their opposition to the proposed outdoor shelter. They accuse local politicians of deciding on a location for the tent city without discussing it with the public.
“This city council has said, ‘we are going to consult.’ That is the hallmark of who we are,” said resident Barbara Wiggins. “Did they consult with us? Not one iota.”
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps responded:
“My question, and I think they are already working on answers, is if not Topaz, then where? And if not a temporary tenting area in the city, then what? What do we do?”
The battle over camping in public places in Victoria peaked in 2008 when a court ruling said it was OK to camp in parks if there is no shelter available, a decision that angered then-mayor Alan Lowe.
Lawyer D.J. Larkin, an advocate for homeless groups, said:
“The ruling in Victoria applied to Victoria bylaws. However, it’s our position that those charter rights apply to homeless people who live in all municipalities and that all municipalities should be following suit.
“What is absolutely clear is that no matter what city you live in, if you have nowhere else to be you have to have a right to rest and sleep and to shelter yourself,” she said.
Residents rallying in Topaz Park Saturday may agree with that idea in principle, but they don’t agree with the location of the proposed tent city.
Helps says she welcomes input from Topaz Park residents to help find a solution.
-With files from Jill Bennett
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