401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
Statement from the Board of Directors "Given the Covid 19 pandemic and the safety issues this disease creates, the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Community Centre Association supports the Province and the City's initiatives to provide temporary housing for campers from Oppenheimer Park. Providing housing in hotels that are currently empty is a good short-term strategy and we expect that housing will be available for these homeless residents when the Covid 19 pandemic is brought under control. We urge the province to begin putting housing in place immediately for the many other homeless people who are currently living on the streets of the DTES. Oppenheimer Park is a vital resource for all people living in the Oppenheimer District. It is the only pocket park in the neighbourhood; Children, seniors and those who are homeless or living in sub-standard housing have historically found support and sustenance in the park. Housing for all homeless people is necessary so that the park can be returned to its former use as a safe gathering place for all members of our community. " The Board is an elected group of 10-12 people who volunteer. It is a non-profit association and works to make Carnegie Centre and the surrounding community a good place to live and grow. The growth also includes the homeless people and those living in substandard housing in SROs and the Carnegie Association supports efforts of many individuals and groups to improve the conditions in our neighbourhood. Oppenheimer Park is one of the few green spaces in the Downtown Eastside and is open to everyone, yet the need for decent housing or just a safe space caused
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many people to take up residence in the park. In 2014 the tents occupied Oppenheimer for some months, and it was eventually cleared of campers as fall came. The hope then was that the powersthat-be would have the political will to aggressively build and provide housing for the increasing number of people becoming homeless. Initiatives and projects fell short as homelessness increased. Dilapidated hotels like the Balmoral and Regent were closed and replacement housing was lacking .. People took up residence in the park again and, willy-nilly, made people living in the surrounding area afraid to go there. Ongoing reports and incidents of violence and predation increased this unease, with efforts to find housing solutions hampered by the condemnation of campers. Many of those camping in Oppenheimer Park now have temporary housing. This is good but the operative word is 'temporary' with no guarantee of decent housing when the government stops paying the bill. The Carnegie Community Centre Association strongly demands that housing and supports be in place when this pandemic is brought under control. We cannot go back to business as usual with nothing ready and only unrest and retaliation waiting as fall and winter approach. Homelessness is a visible symptom of injustice and the purchasing power of indigent residents must be increased. Without economic justice there can be no social justice. ByPAULR
TAYLOR