A growing number of tents pitched at a homeless camp in Richmond’s Hamilton neighbourhood are raising the ire of local residents.
After making numerous complaints to the City of Richmond and the RCMP about health and safety, public defecation and theft, concerned residents have set up a Facebook page “Hamilton Homeless Camps.”
And on Saturday, some of them are meeting with Richmond-Queensborough MLA Jas Johal, who has agreed to look into the issue for them.
According to the residents, it started off last November with one or two tents at the site, close to Westminster Highway and Boundary Road, but has grown, they claim, to between five and ten tents recently.
The site’s proximity to a daycare and the local community centre ranks high on the list of fears being expressed.
One of the residents, Cassi Teraguchi, a mother of two young kids, lives close to the site.
“Both my kids go to the daycare next to the campsite and we do lots of stuff at the community centre near there. I understand (the camp residents) are using the centre also,” she told the Richmond News on Thursday.
“The city’s solution was to cut back the bushes at the site, but that just made more space for more tents. I’ve seen up to 10 tents there at one time.
“I used to walk the path through that site to get to the daycare and walk back with my kids. Not anymore, I don’t feel safe.
“The people there are using that site as their washroom, as well. I don’t really want my kids to see that.”
Teraguchi said she’s heard of windows being broken and bikes and cars disappearing more frequently than usual, since the camp sprung up.
“I have a big heart and people actually took blankets over to them in the beginning, but my kids’ safety will always be more important,” she added.
“I would like them to find safe shelter, but I would like this site to be removed, if I’m honest. It’s a dangerous spot. Now the city has given them an actual address, it’s making it seem permanent.”
Johal, meanwhile, has been to visit the site and spoken with some of the occupants.
“It’s not just homelessness, there seems to be other issues there, as well, possibly drugs,” he said.
“I had a good conversation with (the camp occupants), they’re trying to find a place to live. I think they’re trying to keep the place clean.
“I would urge city councillors to come out here and see the site for themselves to get a real sense of the challenges.”
Johal, however, said he understands the concerns of the residents and is happy to meet with them to hear first-hand their issues.
“I agree that children have a right to their safety and innocence. As a dad, I wouldn’t want this in front of my home either,” added Johal, who has spoken to the city and been told that the fire department and city bylaws staff are on top of the situation.
“My worry is that (the camp) could soon get bigger.”
City spokesperson Ted Townsend told the News that the city is aware of “five to six persons living on the site, who were apparently reno-victed from a rental home.
“The city has been closely monitoring and managing the site. Bylaws, fire and/or or RCMP staff continue to visit the site on a daily basis.
“Richmond Fire-Rescue visits the site at least twice weekly and are working with the residents to ensure fire safety measures are in place and being followed.
“This includes ensuring there are fire extinguishers on site and other safety measures are in place.”
Townsend added that the city’s bylaw officers visit the site daily to ensure that minimum health and safety and other standards are being met.
“The residents have been co-operative in bagging their garbage for removal and keeping the site contained,” he said.
“RCMP, including patrol officers and members of the Vulnerable Persons section, are also visiting the site on a regular basis to ensure the residents are safe and to prevent public nuisances or criminal behaviours.
“The persons living at the site have been cooperative in working with city staff to address our concerns regarding safety and keeping the site cleaned up.
“They are actively trying to secure rental housing on their own and are also working with city and provincial staff to identify potential social housing options.”
Community safety, added Townsend, “remains a priority for the city and we’re satisfied that public safety is not being compromised. RCMP report that there has been no recent increase in reported crime in the Hamilton area.”
Townsend said the city shares the residents' desire to find a permanent solution for all parties.
“However, the city must consider many issues in dealing with this issue, including legal precedents established by the courts in regards to relocating homeless who are camped on public property,” he said.
“Richmond is also a compassionate community that takes care of our citizens including the vulnerable.”
Homelessness, said Townsend, is a “regional issue and Richmond is experiencing it as well.”
