B.C. municipalities pass bylaws targeting homeless

Maple Ridge, a suburb of Metro Vancouver, is the latest to join the movement this week, with a new bylaw prohibiting “aggressive” panhandling, including asking people in their cars for money, asking more than once or asking in groups of three or more. The new bylaw also has provisions for fining people who sit or lie on the street in a way that impedes pedestrians.

“Homelessness is starting to impact rural communities,” said Dawn Dunlop, the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association branch in Salmon Arm. “Five years ago, people would say there is none here. But it’s not so hidden now. We have camps now, mostly on the sides of the highway, that we didn’t have before.”

The province brought in the Safe Streets Act in 2004, making it one of only two provinces in the country with legislation aimed at giving cities the ability to fine people for panhandling or other kinds of unwelcome behaviour by poor and homeless people in public spaces.But some municipalities now are saying that law didn’t go far enough and they are bringing in even tougher rules about behaviour in public spaces.

“Instead, I’ve urged them to work with our government on long-term solutions like building the homes with supports people need to move forward. The response has been encouraging.”Pivot Legal Society, a Vancouver-based legal advocacy group, has taken up the battle in several communities.

At least get them off the downtown streets. Even cows and horses have a place to sleep. Need more mental health workers and beds! Crisis centres. Conservative cut these out yrs ago.

They need homes 🏡 and jobs not bylaws

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