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Victoria’s mayor says the three-phase plan police have unveiled to tackle violence and end a notorious city centre settlement is just one part of a broader community safety plan launching this fall.
Marianne Alto added that she supports the Victoria Police Department’s three-phase plan, which includes increasing foot patrols, working with municipal supervisors to remove structures and empty tents, and ultimately working with the province and city to break up the camp and provide shelter or housing for residents.
“I support that plan,” Alto said. “I want to make sure people understand that the city is working with the police.”
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak unveiled the plan Wednesday, nearly a month after emergency responders in the 900 block of Pandora Avenue stopped answering calls without a police escort after a paramedic was attacked in the area.
Alto said a broader “community safety and wellbeing plan,” which incorporates the work of the VicPD, would be presented to council this fall.
“We have certainly assessed … what the expectation is from the public around us that they do something, and it always comes down to the fact that we can no longer wait for other people to take action,” she said.
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“We know other people need to take action and we continue to push them to do so, but if we have the opportunity to make a difference, to make it better, that’s what we’re going to do.”
At the same time, Alto said the city needs to see more from higher levels of government, especially the province.
She “commended” the British Columbia government for its work in bringing hundreds of new homes online, but said the process will take years and immediate action is needed.
She also pointed to the “huge” gaps in health and mental health services needed to address the challenge of homelessness.
“All of this is happening in a context where we are seeing a very dramatic breakdown in the social services that are normally provided by the province, and sometimes by the federal government, with some interaction with local governments,” she said.
“In the meantime, we must immediately create additional shelter places.”
In a statement, Island Health said the situation on Pandora is challenging for everyone and that the company remains committed to working with first responders, the city and the public on long-term, permanent solutions.
“This is a complex societal challenge involving trauma, poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, mental health and marginalization. It requires a multi-level, collaborative response from all levels of government, non-governmental agencies, nonprofits, and the housing and health sectors,” the health authority said.
The provincial Minister of Public Safety indicated that work is being done on this and that more information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Julian Daly, CEO of Our Place Society, said he was optimistic for the first time that authorities were really committed to tackling the homelessness problem.
Representatives from the city, police, Island Health, BC Housing and service providers have already begun identifying shelters and the health care people need to get off the streets and stay there, he said.
“I’m very happy that this is finally happening. We’ve been meeting every week for the past few weeks and we have the right people in the room. These are very action-oriented meetings. It’s not about sitting around and talking,” he said.
“I think it is realistic that within nine weeks we can make serious strides towards ending street homelessness in Victoria.”
He added that social service providers were pleased that police were stepping up enforcement on Pandora Avenue, where elements of organised crime had set up shop to exploit vulnerable people.
Alto said she would not provide a timetable for efforts to end the encampments on Pandora, but said the city is committed to ensuring the street is reopened to the general public “soon.”
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