Ryan Fletcher and I down at the Red Tent City in Vancouver DTES. A tent city was erected in one of downtown Vancouver’s empty lots on Monday Feb 15th. The lot owned by Concord Pacific was intended to be a parking lot for VANOC vehicles during the games has been occupied by members of the community. As of Wednesday Feb 17 there were about 200 people staying at the tent site and a statement to the number of homeless in Vancouver and the call for more low income and social housing within the city. We spoke with some of the people in tent city, their views on the protest and how the homeless have been treated with the games in town.
Nestor, our media liason at the site, shares his observations on what has been happening over the past few days. (2:11)
Rick and John’s thought on Tent City (5:16)
Stella August on women and the Downtown East Side (5:03)
Derick a musician who is staying in tent city, plays a tune in the street (1:59)
Stuart Richardson Programmer and Host of the CJSF Program Latin Waves, interviews Rick, one of Vancouvers working homeless
Ryan Fletcher attends the Tent City Press Conference and hears the passionate pleas from the community. (23:51)
Part 1
Part 2
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February 23, 2010 at 9:11 am
Carol Crocker
That beautiful rendition Derek sang of “Heart of Gold” sure describes the people who give so much of themselves to help others in need. Listening to Stella and the others present their experiences just fills my heart. To hear that there are so many people in need of safe housing just saddens me in this day and age. Surely there are some educated, sensible, intelligent people in positions of power that can get together and solve this problem. Housing is such a basic human right. I remember staying in a shelter one time and having to share sleeping space with so many others. The male and female bathrooms were pretty close together, too and had no doors let alone locks. As an abuse survivor I found it very uncomfortable to go in to take a shower. The design of the bathroom wall was the only real separation between both bathrooms. While most staff were friendly there weren’t enough of them. I never did get to see a social worker while there. There would be lineups and I just never quite made it. I was also experiencing depression and PTSD at the time. I was so lucky to have family come get me and only had to stay there 5 days. It was better to sleep on an air mattress in her living room than stay there any longer. At least I had privacy in the bathroom. I can’t imagine having to live there for long periods of a time. Today I am in supportive housing and thank God and the Canadian Mental Health Association for my blessings.
I mean if our federal government can send people to Haiti to build housing and infrastructure then surely they can send people there to build housing. There are so many rules and regulations now for building that it defeats the purpose and gets in the way of developing safe affordable housing. Everybody keeps passing the buck as to who is responsible and it just keeps going round and round and nothing gets done. Governments should be ashamed!
I wish all the participants of Tent City a safe and prosperous result in their endeavor. I thank them for their courage, strength and their determination for raising these issues and sticking with it to the bitter end. Miracles can happen!
Safe hugs to all.
Carol Crocker
February 26, 2010 at 2:14 am
J Peachy
Thank you for sharing Carol. Most people are unaware of how mundane daily living tasks to most people, take up so much effort and energy for those without a home or enough money to have choices.
Maintaining hope while living in those circumstances and in a sometimes cruel society does take courage, perseverance and strength. It also takes a level of pride to ask for the help even when you feel that you don’t deserve it.
The tent city is in a high traffic location, it is raising awareness and people are asking questions. I am proud of the people in this city who are standing up for the future of it.
jp
February 26, 2010 at 9:37 pm
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