Parents in Chilliwack are outraged about a homeless camp recently set up between an elementary and high school and are questioning why no action has been taken to remove it.
Now they are taking action into their own hands and are taking to the school grounds Thursday morning to clean up used condoms and needles, saying the city won’t deal with the problem.
The camp has reportedly been set up between GW Graham Secondary School and Vedder Elementary School.
“On Tuesday morning, a few of us decided to go and actually walk-in after we saw a Facebook post about the mess that’s been going on since last spring,” said Carly Wiese, who has children attending both GW Graham and Vedder. “When we went in there, it’s absolutely disgusting. It’s full of human waste, needles, stolen goods, garbage, it’s just spread everywhere.”
“And we’re standing back there towards the school and we can hear the kids playing at recess and there’s this cesspool literally feet away from where they are.”
Wiese said they have also seen people using drugs in the area.
Another concerned parent, Nadine Gough, said last Wednesday a friend told her she had seen three homeless men going through some of the children’s backpacks and taking out their lunches.
“She also noticed there were some bikes and they were trying to take parts off the kids’ bikes,” said Gough. “She scared them off when she noticed all of this.”
Wiese said she has emailed Chilliwack’s MLA Laurie Throness about the issue but received no response. She said the Tzeachten First Nation, who owns the land where the schools are located, have offered their assistance and the principals of the schools have been helpful but she would like to see a plan put in place by the city.
“This is just not working,” she said. “I just don’t see any change.”
Last week, parents of students at Chilliwack Middle School voiced their concerns about needles, condoms, and drug paraphernalia discarded on the grounds. Parents were questioning why the school district had not moved in to clean up the mess.