Jun 25: What looming government decision means for people living outside

On June 25 'victoria' city council will be deciding whether to go back to enforcement of their parks bylaw that, as current written, bans daytime sheltering (forcing people to pack up their tents at 7 AM every day, and not set back up again till 8 PM -- 7 PM in winter). The stress and …

Action: Write City Council – keep letting people shelter in parks 24/7

In mid-March when the COVID public health emergency was declared, the city finally stopped enforcing one of the most harmful provisions of its Parks Regulations Bylaw: the ban on daytime sheltering in parks. This was a big relief. People have been able to keep their tents up 24/7 in areas where sheltering is permitted, rest …

We are human beings: Open letter from people living outside, to Victoria city council and staff

In every city across ‘canada’ there are people living outside -- sleeping in tents or cars or without any shelter, living in parks, alleyways or sidewalks. Instead of asking people who are living outside what they need and working constructively with them to make things better, many cities have taken a hostile “us and them” …

City of Victoria: Still a long way to go

Today City of 'victoria' Parks staff did a good thing, confirming bathroom hours are extended so there are more bathrooms open 24/7 and that a portapotty will be put into a park where sheltering is allowed to make it more feasible to actually do that. Kudos to staff to communicating respectfully and responsively with Poverty …