A half dozen tents were pitched on the steps of Richmond City Hall Friday night, as a small group of youth gathered to support a housing project for homeless people that is opposed by many nearby residents on Elbridge Way.
“I thought it was kind of ridiculous that people were fighting against this. We have an issue here and I think we should address it.
“Instead of playing it off like there’s nothing there, we should do something about it,” said organizer Jaeden Dela Torre, a Grade 12 student at Steveston London secondary.
Among the eight or so protesters (plus adult chaperones) was a good friend of Dela Torre, David Yang, a 20-year-old university student and recent graduate of MacNeill secondary.
“We are facing an issue that matters to the community here in Richmond. Over the past few years we’ve seen the statistics of homeless people going up. It looks like a trend for quite some time now. It’s slowly becoming one of the more important issues that needs to be tended to in our community,” said Yang.
Roy He, a Grade 12 McNair secondary student answered the call on Facebook to join the campout. He joined Yang in his concern over the growing homeless population and said he wants people to understand that those who are homeless are first and foremost people.
“A lot of people have an idea of what a homeless person is but a lot of folks don’t get time to meet them and talk to them. When I work at the soup kitchen, I get to ask them where they’ve been and what they may want. Homelessness is a label; we forget they are actually people,” said He.
The project they are supporting is a now well-publicized project that has nevertheless been the focal point of extreme opposition in the City centre neighbourhood. BC Housing is proposing to build 40 units of temporary (five years) modular housing at 7300 Elmbridge Way. Many neighbours have opposed the plan and likewise protested outside city hall.
The proposal has non-partisan support at the provincial level, including from Housing Minister Selina Robinson and Richmond South Centre MLA Linda Reid. However the buck stops at municipal councillors as the housing will be placed on vacant city land (presently a temporary off-leash dog park). Council will vote on the project Thursday evening at a public meeting at 7 p.m. (more details below).
“I think the city needs to show compassion. We have the resources. Why not use them? In my view, a society where we don’t help one another is not something we should be fighting for. A society however where we do help each other, that’s a pretty good feeling,” said Dela Torre.
De Whalen, chair of the Richmond Poverty Response Committee, assisted Dela Torre with the campout. He was subsequently assisted by some local members of the BC NDP, including past candidate Aman Singh and Keefer Pelech, a 26-year-old youth worker and office assistant with Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“I think youth speaking up and organizing and using their own voices is really important,” said Pelech, who grew up in Richmond (a graduate of Hugh Boyd secondary).
“I have had friends who have ended up on the Downtown Eastside. They have had different mental wellness issues. Through circumstances they’ve ended up there. And I know other friends who have gone through other problems but they’ve been connected with resources, with support and now they’re leading healthy, professional lives. And that’s the power of connecting people with resources,” said Pelech.
Decision Day:
Following a short presentation from staff, the Special Council Meeting will provide members of the public with an opportunity to delegate to Council. Those wishing to speak to Council are encouraged to register prior to the meeting. A speakers list will be available starting at 6 p.m. outside Council Chambers on a first come, first served basis.
Proposed materials can be found on the City’s website at Richmond.ca/RapidResponsetoHomelessness.
