VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Homelessness is one of Vancouver's most persistent problems. But another west coast city may have come up with a fix. Seattle is replacing its old roving homeless camp with a permanent one on the site of an old factory south of its downtown core.
In Vancouver, Wendy Peterson with the Carnegie Community Action Project says she's not totally against the idea of having a camp like that here, but still thinks it's very much a band-aid solution.
"If you put a homeless camp in Vancouver, it might be good temporarily to see people safe and get people together so they can organize more housing for themselves. Maybe it would be a good idea, but ultimately, we need to have permanent decent housing."
The City of Vancouver isn't too hot on the idea either. Councillor Kerry Jang says it's much more preferable to have people housed in proper buildings and away from the elements.
"The set-up of a simple camp has, in Vancouver's history, had some problems. From sanitation issues [to the] spread of disease... it's not something we've ever contemplated. Certainly, we'd much prefer to have permanent structures for folks to live in."
Jang adds there are 14 sites being brought on in partnership between the city and the province, and the popular heat shelters around town.