Saanich council has approved bylaw changes requiring tents and structures to be removed from parks by 7 a.m.
Saying the changes are meant to improve work safety for municipal staff, the district will also change the way it handles the belongings left behind when those sheltering in parks move from the sites.
Mayor Dean Murdock said the changes come with input from Saanich police, bylaw, public works and parks departments.
“The changes are mostly around safety for staff and the handling and storage of materials as examples of areas where improvements needed to be made from a safety perspective and from a capacity perspective,” Murdock said, though he also stressed the district is taking a compassionate approach to it.
“We’re dealing with human beings who have no better option than to seek temporary shelter in the park, and that means packing up their belongings in the morning,” he said. “That’s a delicate situation.”
The new rules, which will come into force within a couple of weeks when council adopts the changes, will mean those sheltering in parks must remove their tents and structures before 7 a.m. Previously, people were allowed to remain between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m.
The earlier time aligns with bylaws in Victoria and Langford, and means less confrontation with summer park programs that often start before 8 a.m.
The other changes revolve around handling of goods and materials left behind when people move on.
Parks and public works staff will now be able to directly dispose of material they deem to be rubbish, hazardous, or potentially hazardous when the contents are unknown.
Material that staff can identify will be stored for up to 14 days. Previously, the district would store items for 30 days.
According to Saanich staff, those changes will have little impact as most items are claimed within a couple of days of being left behind.
Murdock said 81 of Saanich’s 171 parks allow people to shelter temporarily. He said with so many, the district has not really seen a concentration of people in any one area.
“There are some parks that are more frequently used for that purpose, but largely folks have an understanding of what the requirements are, and I think our staff work with them to ensure that they’re able to pack up their things without a lot of disruption to their situation,” he said.
Murdock acknowledged camping and shelter beds are a stop-gap.
“We need to be working toward more permanent solutions that help people who are in need, who badly need services in our community and need a permanent place to live,” he said.
He also admitted Saanich and other municipalities need to carry more of the burden of providing supportive housing and services to help people get off the streets.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto has called out other municipalities in the region for leaving the heavy lifting to Victoria, noting that of the 1,456 supportive-housing units in the capital region, 1,267 are in the city.
Alto makes a good point, Murdock said. “We all need to work together to ensure that we’re all providing shelter spaces, permanent housing, support services, working with our health partners to ensure that we’re meeting that need, that we’re helping support the vulnerable population in our community and it’s going to take a regional approach in order to make that happen.”
Murdock said Saanich is keen to be part of a regional solution.
“I see the Capital Regional Housing Corporation as being a vehicle in order to help us deliver that,” he said. “And Saanich can certainly, as the largest municipality, be a partner in making that happen.”
