Vancouver park rangers intervened to prevent advocates from constructing tiny homes at a court-protected homeless encampment located on the city’s downtown waterfront. These advocates aimed to create insulated shelters to offer protection and warmth to the homeless population, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
The encampment residents and their supporters argued that the structures should be permitted as the encampment has received court protection, affirming that there are no suitable alternative accommodations for those living in makeshift tents at the waterfront park.
However, the Vancouver Park Board contended that these tiny home structures posed safety risks and violated city bylaws, which only permit temporary structures from dusk to dawn. Consequently, park rangers, accompanied by police officers, intervened and halted the construction before it commenced on Thursday afternoon.
Advocates emphasized that the volunteer efforts to build tiny homes underscore the severity of the homelessness crisis in the province and the urgent need for dignified shelter during extreme weather conditions.
Brad Gustafson, a contractor from Prince George who led the efforts to build the homes, expressed the grassroots movement’s determination to address the homelessness issue, given what appears to be a slow response from all three levels of government.
Gustafson had previously built several tiny homes in a court-protected encampment in Prince George, and these structures remain despite warnings from the City of Prince George. He hoped that the City of Vancouver would also permit the temporary structures to remain in CRAB Park, particularly during snowy weather.
However, the Vancouver Park Board argued that these structures would pose safety hazards, degrade the parklands, and disrupt the park’s use by the entire community.
In response, Gustafson contended that his structures, constructed with oriented strand board (OSB) and insulation, are safer than the tents currently used in CRAB Park. He highlighted that OSB and insulation are rated for fire safety and provide insulation during the winter.
Advocates, including Fiona York, argued that the proposed structures met city bylaws and could be dismantled and moved, addressing concerns about permanent structures in parks. However, park rangers insisted that their presence was not for debating bylaws and advised advocates to raise their concerns with the city’s legal team.
Gustafson expressed the need for both sides to establish a precise definition of “temporary structure” as interpretations differed between Prince George and Vancouver authorities amid the ongoing homelessness crisis.
Deputy City Manager Sandra Singh acknowledged that the city has been actively collaborating with other government levels to address homelessness, with hundreds of supportive and social housing units in progress. However, she recognized that more needed to be done, both within Vancouver and regionally.
Singh explained that efforts to enforce park regulations during the day were essential to ensure parks were accessible to all residents. This statement came in response to questions regarding the recent eviction of homeless campers at Oppenheimer Park during the cold snap.