A group calling itself the Alliance Against Displacement, former residents of the Courthouse Tent City, and homeless advocates are supporting a homeless camp that's sprung up in Reeson Park on Wharf Street.
Ashley Mollison with AAD called a news conference as part of the group's multi-regional week of action against homelessness, saying it takes place as the BC Election is happening during the worst housing crisis in BC's history:
" In Victoria this crisis is made worse by uncontrolled and unmanaged development; as condo towers replace rental buildings; as people face evictions and no rights as renters; as low income people, families and seniors on fixed incomes compete for disappearing housing stock wind up so-called hidden homeless - wind up living with friends and family, in cars, in shelters, and in the street."
The Reeson Park encampment has been dubbed "Chattel City" by residents -- a man calling himself "Irish" is one of them:
" I believe the biggest crime that God can commit, or any man can commit, is the indifference of good men. When you see an opportunity to help someone man, you should &*%$ do it - even at the cost of yourself. "
And Stephen Portman, of Together Against Poverty, says income assistance rates in BC haven't increased in over a decade, sitting at just $375 for shelter. But he says with the average for a bachelor apartment in Victoria at $800 the government shouldn't be surprised that people are facing homelessness.
"The average rental accommodation for a bachelor apartment in the city of Victoria is around $800. Income assistance for shelter is $375. This provincial government should expect that people aren't going to be able to provide a home for themselves. And when they can't do that they should expect that people will build shelter, will build community wherever they can."