Victoria will ban people from sheltering in three parks in the coming months if better housing options become available before then for the city’s unhoused.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto on Thursday spearheaded a motion calling for sheltering to be prohibited in Topaz, Hollywood and Regatta Point parks as of Aug. 1, and council chose to change that timeline to before Sept. 1.
“City Council continues to review and adjust the balance of uses in city parks, recognizing the need for recreation and gathering opportunities and spaces for sheltering until adequate housing options are provided by provincial agencies,” Alto’s motion stated.
Victoria council last week supported a ban on sheltering in Stadacona Park come November. The mayor’s motion said after that move and the additional three parks, five city parks with washrooms will still allow sheltering.
“No longer allowing overnight sheltering in these parks addresses a geographical concern that overnight sheltering limitations favour one neighbourhood over another,” Alto’s motion said, adding that the move balances availability and prohibitions among neighbourhoods in the centre, north, south and west of the city.
Council amended the motion to use $25,000 from homelessness-addressing funds, allocated earlier this year, to hire a third-party parks relocation coordinator. That official will oversee transitioning people out of sheltering at the four to-be-banned parks over the remainder of 2023.
The coordinator would not direct individuals to other city parks or boulevards and council also asked staff to identify designated spaces to use as alternatives to sleeping in parks.
Councillors also tasked staff with bringing forward recommendations, costs and funds to pay for security in “neighbourhoods negatively affected by the crime and disorder which exists when certain sheltering and certain housing takes place.”
Alto supported the changes to her proposal – which she called “incredibly difficult” on Thursday – and noted the city is again having to take a larger role in responding to an issue that needs action from higher levels of government.
On Wednesday, the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness asked for further reflection before council acted on the additional bans. The organization’s executive director said further displacing people will likely create more trauma for those impacted.
“It is pretty disturbing,” the coalition’s Sylvia Ceacero told Black Press Media.
Moving people who are already in dire situations to other parts of the city will only reinforce the “us and them” notion, Ceacero said. Constantly making those individuals move makes them feel unwelcome and like they don’t belong, the coalition head added.
“That for any human being is very traumatic,” Ceacero said, adding those on the streets often come from marginalized communities and already have very little.
Ceacero hoped the additional bans would be put off until there are assurances viable housing options are available.
The executive director also invited the city to review the coalition’s framework for sanctioned, self-managed and supported encampments prior to moving forward.
Enhanced sheltering enforcement by police and bylaw teams was applied at Topaz Park earlier this month.
READ: Victoria eyes end date for Stadacona Park sheltering
READ: Victoria homeless pitch solutions as no change expected after park shelter dispersed