One of our members spoke to the Victoria City Council on February 9, 2023, about the confiscation of unhoused folks’ tents and belongings by bylaw officers when the Emergency Weather Response (EWR) is active and the need for trauma-informed outreach.
Many people living on our streets and in our parks are hesitant to use EWR shelters because they can’t bring their tents and belongings with them. If they do stay in a shelter, they may have their belongings confiscated as “abandoned” if left in the parks. Victoria bylaw policy is enforcement-focused, so people with very few resources are having everything they own – including tents, clothing, food, blankets, and personal belongings – confiscated or thrown away. This is harmful to citizens and is a violation of the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
Watch the video presentation starting at 25:40.
Neighbourhood Solidarity with Unhoused Neighbours 