The move comes after a tent city has emerged in Strathcona Park that has drawn hundreds of homeless residents from across Vancouver. In a letter to penned to parents, school principal Jason Eng said changes within the community over the past several months have had "a significant impact on the safety, security, and cleanliness of Strathcona Elementary and Strathcona Community Centre." "It's very clear that campers aren't safe, residents aren't safe, and kids aren't safe", said Katie Lewis, vice-president of the Strathcona Residents Association. Strathcona Park is the site of Vancouver's newest tent city, after tents at Oppenheimer Park on the city's Downtown Eastside and near Crab Park on Burrard Inlet were removed in the spring. Potential solutions include purchasing more hotel space for temporary shelters or even opening a sanctioned tent city on public land.

Source: CBC News September 24, 2020 02:32 UTC