Unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Swx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories.

For six months, the Vancouver Park Board, collaborating withthe City of Vancouver and the Province of BC, have harassed people living in CRAB Park, breaking into tents, stealing their belongings, limiting fresh water and fencing people in.

Despite attempts by people living in CRAB Park to negotiate in good faith, the City and the Province encourage the Park Board to increase harassment through the use of a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement guarantees harassment of people living in public spaces.

Now, they are seeking an injunction against people living in CRAB Park that will allow the Vancouver Police to forcibly evict people from a community that provides them safety.

Despite what the Park Board, City and Province claim, residents do not have a “suitable” place to go.

Nobody should be punished for not having housing. 

We ask for the following:

1. That the Park Board withdraw its request for an injunction that will permit the use of police force to remove people living in CRAB Park.
2. An end to the enforcement heavy Memorandum of Understanding among the Province of BC, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Park Board, an agreement which encourages the use of force against people sheltering outside.
3. That people who are unhoused and sheltering in public spaces should be consulted about policies or agreements that impacting their safety or survival.

We believe Government should be working to:

Protect people – Stop removing and harassing people sheltering in parks and other public spaces. No more enforcement forward policies.

Respect people – People have a right to choose what safe, suitable and dignified housing is for them. They should not be punished for rejecting unsafe or unsuitable housing; they should be protected.

House people – Provide suitable housing for those sheltering outside that meets their needs. Shelters are not homes.

Daily enforcement against people sheltering in parks is traumatizing and does not help people access housing. Police led eviction is an act of violence.

It’s up to all of us to speak up against Government ordered abuse.

With your help, we can ensure people sheltering in public places are protected, respected, and housed.