Large and elaborate homeless encampment on the north side Vernon dismantled by the Ministry of Transport and Transit (MOTT).
The camp has received a lot of attention over the last couple of months due to an unusual component – the treehouse structure.
The site is also in a highly visible location along busy Highways 97 and 48.th Ave.
This has raised a variety of safety concerns, including from the city's fire chief.
Some residents also expressed environmental concerns, given that the site is just a few feet from the BX Creek.
Crews in hazmat suits arrived this week to dismantle it, displacing the people who had taken refuge there.
MOTT said it gave camp residents two weeks' notice on Oct. 8, telling them they would have to leave the area.
“It’s very sad to see people displaced,” said Kelly Fehr, executive director of operations for Turning Points Cooperative Society.
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The organization supports the homeless population.
“When people are in a municipality with a low vacancy rate, when you're forced to leave your campsite, you have very few options as to where you're going to stay,” Fehr said.
Fehr said Turning Points has been informed of the camp's dismantling and says that while shelters are often at or near capacity, they are willing to help those in need.
“We encourage people who are staying at the camp to come to our shelter, the Vernon shelter, and let us know and we will do our best to find you a bed,” Fehr said.
A joint statement from MOTT and the Ministry of Housing said: “While camps may provide a sense of community for some people, they are not a safe or suitable form of long-term shelter and pose significant risks to people's well-being.”
For those experiencing homelessness in Vernon, some relief is on the way.
The 52-unit supportive housing complex is nearing completion and is expected to open early in the new year.
It will be managed by the Turning Points Collaborative Society.
“We know that there are people who couchsurf regularly, there are people who sleep in our parks, in our alleys, and we turn down shelters quite regularly because housing capacity does not meet the need,” Fehr said. “There is an absolute gap.”
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