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A group representing homeless people camping in a large, circular patch of grass alongside an on-ramp to the Oak Street bridge in South Vancouver say they have been given a day to move.
According to a statement released by the Marpole Mutual Aid Network and Stop the Sweeps, six Vancouver police officers, firefighters and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff visited the site on Wednesday morning.
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“Later in the day, MOTI staff returned with the VPD and Vancouver Fire and Rescue to complete the assessment,” the statement read.
“During this time, residents were told that as of midnight (Wednesday), they will be considered to be trespassing. This immediately criminalizes the lives and homes of the people living on that land.”
The two groups representing the tent dwellers have asked for an extension to allow people to find another location to live.
“The resources put into decampments and evictions would be far better served by determining how to support and aid people living outside,” the statement read. “Many Marpole residents have also expressed support for these unhoused neighbours.”
The City of Vancouver has recently cracked down on homeless people living in encampments, especially in Oppenheimer Park where police, park rangers and other parks staff have taken down tents and thrown out people’s belongings.
dcarrigg@postmedia.com
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