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Running Head; HOMELESSNESS 1
SAFETY CONCERNS FOR ON-THE-MOVE HOMELESS FAMILIES IN VICTORIA
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BACKGROUND
Homelessness remains one of the leading social issues in British Columbia, with Victoria experiencing the highest number of homeless people in the province. The root of the problem of homelessness in Victoria and the larger BC is primarily the lack of affordable housing that continues to render a huge number of families homeless. According to a survey conducted by Victoria Police in 2015, homelessness ranked as the top issueaffecting business in Victoria, with crimes such as break-ins and drug dealing and abuse coming below it. In 2008, the supreme court in British Columbia enshrined the right of people to camping in the parks overnight when they lack shelter. This move prompted the Victoria police in conjunction with bylaw officers to be undertaking a routine wake-up rounds every morning to keep the homeless families on the move (Wilson, 2018).
The movements of the homeless in Victoria are not only within the city but also across with a significant number of them moving to Sooke over their safety in the streets of Victoria. Like any other population, the homeless deserve to be protected for their safety, mainlydue to the fact that they are a population without permanent shelter. The measures that the provincial and local governments have adopted to alleviate the issue of homelessness in Victoria, BC pose both safety benefits and setbacks. Following the dismantling of a tent city in 2017, the homeless in Victoria have found themselves in frequent movement as this meant that they did not have a permanent site on which to camp, thus increasing safety concerns for both residents and themselves. Hipolito (2018) reports that the dismantling was occasioned by both security and environmental preservation concerns, with the neighborhood residents reporting property crime and vandalism.
The safety concerns are not only based on human conflict as there also exist other environmental hazards that the homeless families are faced with according to Wilson, (2018)Children are particularly affected by the higher risk of health hazards that they are likely to come across while playing outside. In a report published in 2014 regarding the death rate among the homeless in Victoria, it was established that the region has a disproportionately high rate of deaths among the homeless compared to other cities in BC. One of the major causes of deaths was accidents as the homeless went about their businesses. Close to 50% of the homeless are said to die as a result of accidents compared to 18% recorded in the general population. This implies that movements are indeed a massive contributor tofatalities among the homeless population. Therefore, besides putting in place permanent measures to alleviate homelessness in Victoria, BC, there is a need to ensure that their movements are limited for the safety of both the residents and the homeless. Establishing healthy tent cities,for example, is one measure that Hipolito (2018) states would minimize the accidents that are recorded among the homeless. Also, this measure would help to contain the rate at which criminal activities associated with homelessness spread across the city.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hipolito, C. (2018). B.C. top judge refuses to order homeless from Victoria court grounds. The Globe and Mail. Web. Available at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-supreme-court-judge-refuses-to-order-homeless-from-victoria-court-grounds/article29527772/
This article highlights a ruling of a BC supreme court that turned down the move by the government to move the homeless from a camp in Victoria. According to the supreme court judge, the move would only compromise the safety of this homelessgroup of about 100 families and furthermore transfer any problem they pose to another area of Victoria. The major complaint by the government was that the homeless were trespassing and thus posing a security threat for themselves and other members of the community. This article is important as it highlights the safety concerns and legal implications that moving the homeless has in the city.
Derosa, K. (2017). Homeless in Victoria must keep moving on. Vancouver Sun. Web. Available at https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/homeless-in-victoria-must-keep-moving-on
In this report, the authors highlight the rule implemented by the police department and other security stakeholders in Victoria who enforce the rule of keeping the homeless moving, as opposed to allowing them to occupy a permanent area within the city. The police department wakes the homeless every morning to keep them out of the park during the day. The report is another case of the movements that the homeless in Victoria are compelled to make, and the safety issues that come with this rule. The authors highlight the arrests and environmental safety issues that come with this regulation, thus making an essential source for highlighting the plight of the homeless in Victoria.
REFERENCES
Derosa, K. (2017). Homeless in Victoria must keep moving on. Vancouver Sun. Web. Available at https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/homeless-in-victoria-must-keep-moving-on
Hipolito, C. (2018). B.C. top judge refuses to order homeless from Victoria court grounds. The Globe and Mail. Web. Available at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-supreme-court-judge-refuses-to-order-homeless-from-victoria-court-grounds/article29527772/
Wilson, D. (2018). Homeless move to Sooke from Victoria for safety, survey hears. CBC News. Web. Available at https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/homeless-sooke-survey-mayor-maja-tait-1.4585005
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