The waterfront park’s use would be disrupted and tiny homes deemed unsafe, according to the city.
On Thursday, activists at a homeless camp on the downtown waterfront of Vancouver, which is under court protection, were prevented from erecting tiny homes by park rangers.
The goal of the advocacy was to construct insulated shelters that would offer warmth and safety against upcoming storms and frigid spells, in addition to the recent snowstorm that pounded the Lower Mainland.
Residents and supporters of the CRAB Park encampment contended that the buildings should remain in place because the encampment is protected by court orders that determined there was no other appropriate place for those who live in makeshift tents at the waterfront park.
The tiny home constructions, according to the Vancouver Park Board, are unsafe and in violation of their bylaws, which stipulate that temporary structures can only be erected between dusk and dawn.
On Thursday afternoon, before the homes’ construction could begin, park rangers and police officers intervened.
Volunteers building tiny homes, according to advocates, demonstrate the severity of the homelessness problem in the province and demonstrate the need for respectable shelter from severe weather.
The contractor from Prince George, Brad Gustafson, led the team that built the homes. “The end goal is basically to build society back up from a bit of a struggle that we’re having recently,” he said. “The issue of homelessness appears to be worsening and worsening, indicating that the three levels of government are unable to act swiftly enough to address it.
“And so, we are doing the best we can as a grassroots movement.”
At a court-protected encampment in Prince George this winter, Gustafson constructed a number of the tiny homes that are still standing in spite of the City of Prince George’s warnings. Particularly in the event of a snowfall, the volunteer builder expressed his hope that the City of Vancouver would permit the temporary structures to remain in CRAB Park.
The buildings would, according to a park board statement, “pose safety hazards, contribute to the degradation of the parklands, and disrupt use of the park for the entire community.”
Residents of CRAB Park want a tiny home village to be built on a parking lot in Port of Vancouver.
Locals are “overwhelmed” that the judge allowed them to remain in the encampment at CRAB Park.
Gustafson responds that his structures—which are made of insulation and oriented strand board (OSB)—are far safer than the tents that now cover a large portion of CRAB Park. He claims that tents don’t offer winter insulation or security for people or their possessions.
“OSB and insulation behind it … they actually are rated for fire purposes,” he stated.
