DTES Housing Action Media Watch

Anti-Poverty Committee Cancel Planned Squat

2006-12-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

News1130--10:23--The Anti-Poverty Committee has cancelled plans to stage an illegal squat this afternoon at an abandoned building on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Members say it would be inhumane to have protestors - most of whom are homeless - stand outside during a storm warning. They say they are also waiting for their seven friends to be released from jail before they try to take over another abandoned building. The seven were arrested during yesterday's illegal squat in front of a building on the Downtown Eastside.

6 Arrested In Latest Round Of Homeless Battle

2006-12-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

CBC--09:20--Vancouver police arrested six homelessness protesters at an empty provincially owned building in the Downtown Eastside on Sunday. About 12 members of the Anti-Poverty Committee tried to take over the building, but police blocked the entrance on East Hastings Street. At that point, the protesters pitched two tents on the sidewalk. A few hours later, police moved in and made the arrests. The group had staged two earlier protest squats, and spokeswoman Jill Chettiar said they won’t let up until there is more affordable housing. “We are looking not just at other empty buildings, but definitely things like government offices. Places we might go to, to bring the attention to the doorsteps of the people who have the power and the money to do something about this.” Rich Coleman, the B.C. minister responsible for housing, said the APC’s tactics won’t work. “What they’re doing doesn’t help anybody that’s either homeless or at the risk of being homeless, because all they do is break the law.” The minister said that can make winning support for social housing at public hearings more difficult. Coleman said the Liberal government is committed to funding affordable housing. Last week, the province pledged $2.5 million for 44 units of social housing in Vancouver.

A Half Dozen Arrests Follow Planned Squat

2006-12-11T03:30:00.000-08:00

CKNW--03:30--Six people have been arrested after Vancouver Police dismantled a failed tent city on the downtown east side. It was supposed to be another illegal squat to protest homelessness, but police barred about thirty activists from entering an empty building at 301 East Hastings. So,they took to the sidewalk, building shelters with wood and plastic tarps. Police waited several hours before removing the structures. Constable Tim Fanning says several people were arrested, “There were five people arrested for obstructing a police officer and there was another man that was arrested for breach of the peace.” The remaning activists from the Anti Poverty Committee sat on the rainy sidewalk for a half-hour before marching back to Pigeon Park.

Six Arrested at Anti-Poverty Rally: the anti-government protest began in front of APC headquarters

2006-12-11T00:00:00.002-08:00

The Province--A3--David Carrigg--Six Anti-Poverty Committee members were arrested last night in front of an abandoned Downtown Eastside building. The five men and one women were arrested after a group of 30 protesters erected a makeshift structure alongside the building, at the corner of Gore and Hastings streets. The anti-government protest began in front of APC headquarters in the 300-block Carrall Street at 2 p.m. The group then made its way east along Hastings, marching behind banners calling for the Liberal government to spend more on social housing. Police followed the group and, once they set up in front of the building, which is owned by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and used for storage, told organizers the makeshift structure was illegal and would be removed. The protesters then joined arms around the structure and demanded an end to homelessness. Following the arrests three hours later, the group moved away. The APC has been staging anti-government protests since 2002, most recently illegally occupying an abandoned Downtown Eastside hotel and a building on Cambie Street. Protesters also forced the cancellation of a Vancouver council meeting being held at the Vancouver Public Library.

Protesters Eye Province

2006-12-11T00:00:00.001-08:00

24Hours--Irwin Loy--Housing advocates were once again forcibly removed by police after another attempted squat yesterday in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Six people out of about 30 protesters were arrested when police moved in. The protesters, made up of a group called the Anti-Poverty Committee, say they’re now setting their sights on the province to solve homelessness, after two previous squats targeted the City of Vancouver. Yesterday’s protest was outside a provincially owned building, a former Buddhist monastery at Hastings and Gore. “I think the provincial government has far more money,” said APC organizer Jill Chettiar. “They have the mandate, they have the money and really, that $2 billion [provincial surplus] was made on the backs of poor people.” Meanwhile, Vancouver’s city council is being advised to triple its controversial room conversion fee for low-income housing. The city currently charges developers $5,000 per unit to convert traditional low-income SRO rooms to alternate uses. Critics have complained the fee is too small a deterrent; city staff are recommending it be raised to $15,000. Pivot Legal Society lawyer David Eby says it's still not enough. “The condos that will be built will be far in excess of $15,000 profit per room,” Eby said. Later this week council will again discuss what powers it has to fight homelessness.

Police Arrest Six People at Affordable Housing Protest

2006-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Sun--Jonathan Fowlie--Six people were arrested Sunday at a protest aimed at raising awareness about the issue of affordable housing. At about 2 p.m., upwards of 50 protesters from the Anti Poverty Committee met at Pigeon Park and marched toward a provincially owned abandoned building at 301 East Hastings. The protesters set up a tent on the sidewalk as well as a shelter made from wood and tarps, both of which contravened city bylaws. Jill Chettiar, an organizer with the APC, said the demonstration was meant to raise awareness for the problem of affordable housing in the city, adding she feels a recent string of such events has helped gain people’s attention. “I do think it’s working. It [the issue] is on people’s agenda more than it was before the North Star squat on Oct. 22,” she said, adding she won’t consider the events a complete success until there is tangible action from any of the three levels of government on the issue. At about 4:45 p.m., officers from the Vancouver Police Department moved in to remove the structures. They arrested five people for obstructing an officer and one for breach of the peace.

Violent Protest [sic] Breaks Out At Vancouver Public Library

2006-11-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

News1130--10:22--There hasn’t been this kind of violent protest in Vancouver for a long time. Last night police had [sic] to pull out pepper spray to break up an ugly demonstration at the Vancouver Public Library. The demonstration was organized by the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre but it says the agenda was hijacked by the militant Anti-Poverty Committee, which stormed into a city budget meeting and confronted politicians, like councillor Peter Ladner. Ladner says the purpose of the meeting was to hear from people, and if people want to talk to them, then they’re open to having a reasonable discussion. As cameras from Global Television rolled, the protestors started hurling profanity, and even chairs. Pushing and shoving also started when a security guard tried to intervene, and police had [sic] to bring out pepper spray to subdue the crowd. Three people were arrested, a fourth is now wanted on a warrant and there is a chance one of them may even be charged with assaulting a police officer.

3 Arrested As Vancouver Anti-Poverty Protest Turns Violent

2006-11-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

CBC--09:05--Police arrested three people Monday night after a clash with anti-poverty protesters at the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library. The incident began when about 70 members of the Anti-Poverty Committee tried to crash a city budget consultation session. A group of police officers was blocking the entrance and pushed back, trying to stop the protesters from going in. However, some protesters got into the room and began toppling tables and throwing chairs. A police officer pepper-sprayed several people during the confrontation. Police spokesman Const. Tim Fanning said one of the protesters grabbed an officer’s belt and gun during the fracas. “The police officer pushed the protester back and then had to pepper-spray him because he would not let go of her belt.” Fanning said police are recommending that an assault charge be laid against the man. Some members of the group confronted Coun. Peter Ladner, who chairs the city’s finance committee, demanding more money for affordable housing for the poor. Ladner says the protesters crossed the line, adding that he’s not prepared to take the Anti-Poverty Committee seriously as long as it uses confrontational tactics. “We want to hear these opinions, but we can’t hear them if all people want to do is come in and yell and throw chairs around,” he said. Meanwhile, Kim Kerr of the Anti-Poverty Committee blamed the police for starting the confrontation that turned violent. “This is a public meeting. We come here to protest and people are sprayed. And we have no reason to believe that Vancouver’s finest aren’t here to pick people off as they’re leaving. So we intend to leave as a group.” Earlier this fall, the Anti-Poverty Committee staged two occupations of vacant buildings—an old hotel in the Downtown Eastside and a second building near Vancouver City Hall. The group says it is planning more protests in the coming weeks.

Pepper Spray, Arrests Mar Vancouver Library Protest Over Shelter Funding

2006-11-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Canadian Press--08:32--Vancouver police have arrested three people after a violent clash broke out during a protest over funding for a women’s shelter. About 50 demonstrators gathered Monday night at the city’s main public library, where a council budget meeting was being held. A scuffle broke out when security guards refused to allow protesters to bring banners inside. Vancouver police had to use pepper spray to subdue the protesters, who finally got into the building through a back door to find all but one councillor had left. Three people were hauled off to jail, and one is expected to be charged with assaulting a police officer. The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and The Anti-Poverty Committee say they will continue their campaign to make social housing a priority.

“THIS Protest Got Out of hand--Time To Re-Think Tactics”

2006-11-21T00:10:00.000-08:00

CKNW--00:10--It was police versus protesters as a meeting to discuss a proposed Olympic Legacy Fund for Vancouver was shut down. The meeting was supposed to discuss the City’s proposed 20 million dollar Legacy Fund for the Olympics, but anti-poverty activists disrupted the gathering, demanding the City spend money on housing for homeless women. Protesters later managed to burst into the meeting room after some pepper spray was fired. Kim Kerr with the Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association then confronted Councillor Peter Ladner, “We want housing!” “Come and tell us that, then.” “Then you tell me you’re not having him arrested, and that you’re not having people pepper-sprayed that come into a public building to meet with you.” “If you want to meet with me, I’m happy to.” “Oh yes. I’m sure you are.” At least one protester was arrested.

Three Arrested When Protest Against Olympics Spending Turns Violent

2006-11-21T00:00:00.001-08:00

Associated Press--Three people were arrested in Vancouver when a protest over development costs for the 2010 Winter Olympics turned violent. About 50 protesters had gathered Monday night at Vancouver Public Library where a city budget meeting was being held to discuss, in part, an Olympic fund. Police said the crowd had to be controlled after one protester made a grab for an officer’s gun belt. The Vancouver Anti-Poverty Committee criticized funding for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler. “Wedged between budget recommendations from the city is a proposal for a $20 million slush fund that will be extorted from public funds,” a protest notice on the committee’s Web site said. “The money wasted on the Olympics could have housed every homeless woman in Vancouver.” City councilor Peter Ladner, who had to be escorted out of the building by police, said the city has proposed putting aside C$5 million (€3.43 million) a year for the next four years for Olympic legacy projects. He said the meeting was to get public input on the budget proposals. “There was a level of violence last night that we weren’t ready for,” Vancouver Police Department spokesman Tim Fanning said. During the melee one protester grabbed for a female officer’s belt, which held her handgun, baton and pepper spray. Charges were filed against three protesters, include assaulting an officer, causing a disturbance and obstructing an officer. The number of people begging on the streets of Vancouver has increased dramatically in recent years and business groups in Vancouver and nearby Victoria say the situation is causing the cities to lose convention business. A civic association representing Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside — considered one of the poorest neighborhoods in Canada — recently said that hundreds would lose their homes in cheap hotels as developers sought to turn them into Olympic accommodations.

Three APC Protesters Arrested After Attempt To Stop Meeting

2006-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Province--Frank Luba--Three protesters were arrested last night after an attempt to stop a city budget discussion at the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library, said a member of the protest group behind it. Mary Clermont said that Anti-Poverty Committee members David Cunningham, Katie Dyck and Peter Haywood were arrested. The APC has been behind two “squats” or occupations of vacant buildings in Vancouver. The action last night was staged in support of an occupation of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre that began Sunday night. The APC trio were arrested, according to Clermont, after they tried to get medical attention because they had been pepper-sprayed by Vancouver police. Police spokesman Const. Tim Fanning confirmed there were three arrests, one of which was for allegedly assaulting a police officer. There will also be a warrant requested for another protester who was released at the scene. “Five minutes before the meeting was supposed to start, the APC started trying to get into the meeting,” said Clermont. “The police tried to prevent us and we pushed the police line,” she continued. “That’s when they pulled out the pepper spray.” Fanning described it differently. “They tried to kick in the doors of the meeting room,” he said. “During that time, one of the protesters grabbed one of the police officers’ duty belts, wouldn’t let go, was actually grabbing the officer’s gun.” Fanning said the female officer pushed the man back, he wouldn’t let go and she pepper-sprayed him. Cynthia Low, administrative co-ordinator for the embattled women-only drop-in centre, said its doors remained open again last night despite the fact it was supposed to be closing at 5 p.m. She said 42 women spent Sunday night there and more were expected last night because of the cooler temperatures.

City Budget Meeting Shut Down, 3 Arrested

2006-11-20T23:17:00.000-08:00

APC--23:17--This evening, a powerful march made of Anti-Poverty Committee members and supporters and led by the Elders Council arrived at the Central Library Branch, where the city was attempting to hold a public consultation on proposed budget expenditures. The event had been organized to protest the budget items on the agenda – specifically an additional $20 million of City funds to be put into an Olympic slush fund. Security and police attempted to keep demonstrators out of the building and there was a brief stand-off that broke as a few protesters managed to get in through another door. At this point, police grabbed APC organizer David Cunningham and attempted to arrest him. David was successfully de-arrested by others and the march continued into the building. The demonstration went into the library building and down to the basement area where the budget consultation was being held. The space in front of the room was held and after about 10 minutes of chanting, APC members attempted to get into the meeting room. At that point, police violently prevented people from entering the room and pepper-sprayed the group without warning. In the meantime, the group was successful in breaking through the police into the room where the meeting was being held and shut the meeting down, shouting down City Councillor Peter Ladner. In the scuffle with police, several people had been badly sprayed and needed medical attention and ambulances were called. While in the bathroom, trying to get pepper-spray off APC member Peter Haywood was arrested and taken out. Police assured everyone that paramedics were on their way. In fact, calls to 911 confirmed that paramedics had already arrived and were being stopped from entering the building by the police. At this point, APC attempted to leave the building peacefully. While the group was leaving the building, the police targeted two members – Katie Dyck and David Cunningham and arrested them. Remaining demonstrators gathered and left as a group to prevent others from being targeted and picked off by police. At this point, legal counsel are trying to find out what charges are being pressed against the arrestees. We are expecting everyone to be released tomorrow, but it is difficult to say without knowing what charges are being laid or what conditions are being put forward. We will post any updates over e-mail and on our website. The occupation of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) is on-going, and volunteer support is needed. To get involved in helping women keep the Centre open, or to make donations please contact Bernie and the women at DEWC at 778-861-4979, 604-681-8480, ext. 222 or by e-mail skundaal@yahoo.ca.

Anti-Poverty March for Olympics

2006-11-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

CKNW--17:50--Unhappy with a proposal to sink more money into the 2010 games, Vancouver’s Anti-Poverty Committee is planning to shut down tonight’s city budget consultation meeting. They’re planning to march from the Vancouver Art Gallery at 7 to the Vancouver Public Library, where the meeting is being held. Organizer Jill Chettiar says if anything, the meeting should be held at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter where another protest is being held over a lack of funding to keep the shelter open round the clock. Activists also say city budget consultations aren’t being publicized enough.

Anti Poverty Group Visits Mayor Sam At Dinner

2006-11-09T00:00:00.001-08:00

CKNW--00:10--People fighting for more social housing protested outside an art gallery in east Vancouver Wednesday night. A spokesperson for the Anti Poverty Coalition [sic] says they want to remind the Mayor to keep his promise to provide shelter for the homeless. Mary Clement says it is shameful of Sam Sullivan to speak at the event taking place beside the Burns Block Hotel, “They’re meeting at this gallery that is right beside the Burns Block which was shut down just this year. Kicking 40 plus people out into the elements to survive on their own without a place to stay.” The Anti Povery Coalition [sic] hosted a soup-line outside the doors guarded by the Vancouver Police.

No Soup For You, Sam Sullivan

2006-11-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Province--Jack Keating--Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan had to be hustled in and out the back door of a gallery by police as homeless advocates set up a soup kitchen outside an invitation-only dinner last night. More than 100 protesters served vegetable soup and Vietnamese sandwiches to the poor as the Downtown Vancouver Association celebrated its 60th anniversary at a gallery at the corner of West Hastings and Carrall streets. “Mayor Sullivan has to hide behind the police force of Vancouver,” protester Neal Rockwell shouted into a megaphone. “What kind of an elected official is that?” The protesters chanted “No homes, no peace” and held banners reading “Stop the War on the Poor” and “Housing for the Homeless.” “We’re exposing the NPA’s homeless action plan and that is closing down hotels like this one beside us and then coming here for a $100-a-plate dinner,” said David Cunningham of the Anti-Poverty Committee. At the dinner, which cost $60 and up, Sullivan joked about “the welcoming committee outside.” “I think the point of view of this anti-homeless group is a very legitimate point of view,” said Hank Bull, executive director of the Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. “Their beef is with the mayor and I think they have a legitimate complaint to make.” Bull invited some of the protesters in after the mayor left. Said Cunningham: “Sammy just snuck in and out the back door. He’s not a gentleman.”

APC Strikes Mayor’s Dinner At Art Gallery

2006-11-08T23:50:00.000-08:00

CKNW--23:50--Two worlds are colliding on Vancouver’s downtown eastside. Anti-poverty activists are protesting outside an exclusive Art Gallery event. The Anti Poverty Coalition [sic] is hosting a soup line to protest the lack of social housing in Vancouver. Protest organizer David Cunningham says they will do whatever necessary to shelter the homeless, “We’re going to do whatever it takes to provide these people with housing. If it’s squats, if it’s squatting the political arena, whatever it takes by whatever means we need to ensure that the homeless action plan is put into effect.” The protest is being held outside a 60 dollar a head event at the Art Gallery where Sam Sullivan is a guest speaker.

Anti-Poverty Committee Targets Vancouver Mayor in Latest Demonstration

2006-11-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

News1130--21:37--Katharine Kitts--Many of Vancouver’s homeless gathered with the Anti-Poverty Committee to protest a dinner and speech by Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. More than a hundred protestors showed up to have their say. Banners with messages demanding an end to homelessness in Vancouver rose above steaming bowls of soup that were handed out to the hungry and cold. The message was loud and clear from members of the Anti-Poverty Committee to Mayor Sam Sullivan. The mayor spoke at the dinner hosted by the Vancouver Association. David Cunningham with the Anti-Poverty Committee says they showed up for a few reasons. Commuters honked in support of the activists and the contrast was something hard to miss. The small bowls of vegetable soup were clearly not on the menu for the dinner planned for the people inside.

Dinner With The Mayor!

2006-11-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

DINNER WITH THE MAYOR!
2 W. Hastings (corner of Carrall)
Wednesday Nov. 8th 5:30

Join the Sam Sullivan soup line and demand social housing, rent control, squatters rights and the end of policing homelessness. As mayor and chair of the police board Sam can do these things, but only if we make him!

http://apc.resist.ca/graphics/dinner_with_mayor.jpg

Vancouver Squatters Removed, Planning Next Move

2006-11-02T07:45:00.000-08:00

CBC--07:45--Police in full riot gear have ended Vancouver’s latest homelessness protest, removing eight activists from an abandoned building just across from City Hall. Members of the Anti-Poverty Committee had taken over the city-owned building at Cambie Street and West Broadway on Tuesday, their second protest squat in as many weeks. The eight were taken out by police one by one to the cheers of a crowd of housing activists, late Wednesday afternoon. One person was taken into custody and could be charged with assault by trespassing. Earlier in the day, two other activists were arrested for helping get food, water and blankets into the building, which had been surrounded by police. The leaders of the Anti-Poverty Committee said the group plans to keep up the pressure on the city’s ruling Non-Partisan Association to take action to deal with the homelessness situation. ”We’re not going to stop the struggle until the NPA implements their homeless action plan and provides decent housing for women who are otherwise forced out onto the streets,” said spokesman David Cunningham. “I think we will continue delivering our message through an escalating campaign and that message has been pretty persistent, and this is, we demand that the NPA implement their homeless action plan immediately.” Cunningham accuses Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan of not keeping his election promise to buy vacant buildings and convert them to social housing. Sullivan said he is not ignoring the issue and shares the squatters’ frustration. But he also told reporters there is no quick fix to the city’s problem. The mayor unveiled his homelessness strategy on Wednesday, a plan that relies heavily on funding from senior levels of government. “Social housing is clearly in the mandate of the provincial and federal governments. That is the way the roles and responsibilities are divided,” he said. Police say the order to remove the protesters came from the city manager’s office.

Sam--Don’t Look To Victoria

2006-11-02T01:40:00.000-08:00

CKNW--01:40--Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan is taking harsh criticism from the Provincial Minister responsible for housing in stride. In the Mayor’s homelessness action plan announced Wednesday morning, he called on the Province for emergency funding for winter housing supports for the homeless. Rich Coleman wasn’t warm to the idea, accusing Sullivan of shirking his responsibility in the housing problem. He also suggested the City look to increasing density and fast-tracking new social housing projects. Sullivan’s response: “I believe that the Minister is right in saying that many cities are not pulling their weight and I am totally open to working with the Minister to ensure that Vancouver is doing absolutely all we can to ensure we get these housing units established as fast as possible.” As to a strategy to how to deal with escalating action from protestors, Sullivan said it’s simply his hope they’ll work with the City on the problem. The Anti Poverty Commitee has already turned down a seat at an upcoming roundtable on homelessness.

Squatters Gone But Not To Be Forgotten

2006-11-02T01:30:00.000-08:00

CKNW--01:30--They are resolute in their convictions and vow to keep up the fight. While protestors have been cleared out of a vacant building near City Hall, they say they are planning further occupations of buildings in Vancouver. David Cunningham with the Anti Poverty Committee says this is part of their escalating action to end homelessness in Vancouver, “It will be interesting to see how they respond next because the Anti Poverty Committee will be going forward, escalating this campaign by occupying other buildings, squatting the political arena, and doing whatever it takes, by whatever means available to provide decent shelter for women who are otherwise forced out onto the streets.” Over a dozen Vancouver City Police in full riot gear led a handful of protestors out of the building at Broadway and Cambie.

Riot Squad Forces Protesters To Leave Vacant Building: Eight Squatters Leave Peacefully From The Site Destined To Be Torn Down

2006-11-02T00:10:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Sun--B5--Doug Ward and Frances Bula--The two-day illegal occupation of a vacant city-owned building near Cambie and Broadway by homelessness activists ended peacefully Wednesday when eight squatters were removed by members of the police riot squad. The protest was the second in the last two weeks by the far-left Anti-Poverty Committee, and group members say there will be a more occupations of buildings owned by the city. The APC is demanding that Mayor Sam Sullivan and the Non-Partisan Association majority on city council agree to buy a hotel and convert it to social housing. About 20 APC members and supporters entered the building Tuesday. The pre-Second World War apartment building on Cambie is vacant because the city plans to tear it down to build the Canada Line. Only eight protesters were in the building after the police riot squad arrived at about 4:30 p.m. and forced them to leave. One of the squatters was arrested and faces charges of assault by trespassing but the other seven were removed without incident and released immediately without charges. Three other supporters, including Kim Kerr, director of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association, were arrested earlier Wednesday and face charges of obstruction. Kerr helped organize last week’s occupation of the derelict North Star Hotel in Gastown. The three men were trying to get supplies, including sleeping bags, up to the squatters. Stephanie Cameron, one of the APC protesters inside the building, said the police action “doesn’t intimidate any of the activists and this housing offensive will continue to escalate. I know we are all ready to up the ante.” Cameron said the two squats “have definitely forced the NPA to acknowledge and respond to the growing homelessness crisis. That in itself is a victory.” Const. Howard Chow of the Vancouver Police Department said the riot squad was used because the building was heavily fortified and had a number of hazards. “We wanted [the protesters] to walk out on their own, as they did last week. Discussions quickly broke down earlier today and they made it quite clear that they were not about to leave.” Chow said that the city manager’s office had asked the police to force the protesters from the building. At city hall Mayor Sam Sullivan held a media conference to repeat and expand on an announcement made two weeks ago about actions the city is taking on housing and homelessness. Sullivan and Coun. Kim Capri went over the strategies the city is looking at, including reducing the current minimum-size requirement for housing units, fast-tracking housing projects, asking for shelters to be open for longer hours, asking the province to provide money to upgrade private residential hotels, and getting changes to the Vancouver Charter to provide incentives for building affordable housing. Sullivan and Capri were often on the defensive as reporters and housing advocates grilled them about why the city isn’t taking more decisive action immediately. Sullivan kept emphasizing the city doesn’t have either the money or the mandate to provide housing.

Police Evict Squatters From Empty Building: Protest Against Homelessness Broken Up Hours After Mayor Decried It As “Illegal Act”

2006-11-02T00:04:00.000-08:00

The Globe and Mail--Shannon Kari--More than three dozen riot-squad officers moved in yesterday afternoon and, with guns pointed, evicted eight anti-poverty squatters who had occupied an abandoned building as part of a protest against the homelessness crisis in Vancouver. The police action happened a little more than a day after the protesters took control of the low-rise building a few blocks from Vancouver City Hall and just hours after Mayor Sam Sullivan said he would not tolerate squats as a form of civil disobedience. “It is an illegal act,” Mr. Sullivan said of the squat. “Protests and marches are totally acceptable.” Vancouver police surrounded the building and put up yellow crime-scene tape as members of the riot squad used a battering ram to gain entrance to the building. The officers chanted “one, two, one two,” before going inside. Some of the protesters could be heard yelling out a window that they were all in one room and would not be resisting. A number of police wagons and a bus were observed in the area as part of the police response. Within 15 minutes of police entering the building, the protesters were escorted outside by the riot squad and required to provide identification as they were photographed by an officer. In the end, only one person was arrested for trespassing. The other protesters were escorted about 50 metres down a laneway, away from the scores of local news media observing the scene, before they were released. “It was very scary,” said Lily Loncar, one of the squatters. “They were all in riot gear. They pointed their guns at us and told us to put our hands up. I think it was overkill. I have never had a high-powered gun pointed at me.” About 20 people were in the building when it was initially occupied on Tuesday afternoon, but only eight remained by the time police evicted the protesters. Ms. Loncar said she did not regret taking part in the protest, despite the possibility of being arrested. She responded angrily to the suggestion by Mr. Sullivan that the protest, which was meant to raise awareness of the lack of social housing in Vancouver, was an illegal act. “He keeps calling us criminals. This is a man who bought drugs for people,” said Ms. Loncar, referring to admissions by the mayor that he provided small amounts of money several years ago to three people with addiction problems so they could obtain illegal drugs. “He is calling us criminal? Please. I think he is a disgrace.” The squat was staged by an anti-poverty group that took over another abandoned building last month in the city’s Downtown Eastside. That demonstration ended on its third day, after negotiations between the police and protesters, and without the need for riot police. At a news conference yesterday morning at city hall, where the mayor called on the province and the federal government to contribute more money to build affordable housing, Mr. Sullivan would not answer directly why the protesters were not allowed food or water. Vancouver police initially allowed friends of the protesters to hand up food, water and blankets to the squatters on Tuesday afternoon. Hours later, police prohibited this from taking place. A senior Vancouver officer outside the squat explained yesterday afternoon that it was an operational decision, although it was not clear if it was made by police or the city, which owns the building. Three people, including Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association spokesman Kim Kerr, were arrested and charged with obstructing police yesterday afternoon when they tried to provide food to the protesters. There are more than 1,200 homeless people in Vancouver, and one local group that advocates on behalf of low-income residents projected that this number may triple by 2010. “I don’t want that as a legacy for this council,” Mr. Sullivan stressed. But he said that the city only receives eight cents of every dollar of taxes paid by residents of Vancouver, and other levels of government must step up. “The mandate for housing and homelessness is with the provincial and federal governments.”

“Mayor Has Declared War On Poor”: Riot Police Remove Protesters From Vacant Building

2006-11-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Province--A4--Jack Keating, John Colebourn and John Bermingham--More than two dozen police in full riot gear smashed down protesters’ barricades and hauled eight squatters out of a city-owned building yesterday. The massive show of force ended the two-day-old squat in the abandoned three-storey apartment building in the 2500-block Cambie Street. Seven squatters were released without charge and one, believed to be a boy of 15, will be charged with assault by trespassing. “The city sent a whole bunch of police in to intimidate us, and we’re not going to be intimidated,” said squatter Stephanie Cameron after being released. “We’re going to up the ante, and this housing offensive is going to escalate if we don’t see the city’s homeless action plan put in place.” Squatter David Cunningham said after being released: “The police moved in with riot gear and different kinds of big guns. Like, they came in ready to go, with tear-gas canisters locked and loaded. We explained to them that we were willing to leave, that nobody was resisting arrest. Those of us who were not willing at that time to pursue this campaign in the courts left voluntarily. They didn’t use any force because we peacefully left.” At 4:30 p.m. police took Bruce Patton, the City of Vancouver’s security supervisor, to the building. Speaking into a megaphone, he said: “The owner of this building, the City of Vancouver, has not given permission for anyone to enter this building. And I request that you vacate this building immediately.” Within 10 minutes, the riot squad arrived on a TransLink bus, which parked in the lane beside the building at Cambie and West Broadway. “Mayor [Sam] Sullivan has declared war on the poor,” yelled a man named Michael as the riot squad entered the building. As police broke down barricades, female squatters yelled out that they were not resisting arrest and would leave peacefully. The eight squatters were escorted out the back of the building. “We found eight people on the third floor and they were all taken out without incident,” said Const. Howard Chow. “They were given an opportunity to leave the building and not return, and seven of the individuals inside agreed to that. Only one didn’t.” Earlier in the day, three male protesters were arrested as they tried to send food and water into the squatters. All three were charged with obstruction. Sullivan, meanwhile, said all he needs is money to solve the homelessness crisis. But he said he can’t build homes with eight cents out of every tax dollar. The provincial and federal governments hold the rest. Sullivan promised to push the senior governments for social-housing funds, and he also said he’s hired consultants to lure private companies and rich individuals to donate money for social housing.

Gorillas: 1; Homeless: 0

2006-11-02T00:00:00.002-08:00

Georgia Straight--Pieta Woolley--Last week, the Straight reported that NPA Coun. Kim Capri suggested that 10-by-10-foot dorm-style rooms would help solve part of the homelessness crisis in Vancouver. The Zoological Association of America would likely not endorse those standards. For one or two gorillas, the ZAA requires a cage at least 28 by 24 feet, and 10 feet high—roughly 6.5 times what Capri proposed.

Squatters Get City Council Squawking

2006-11-02T00:00:00.001-08:00

24Hours--Irwin Loy--Pressure from a small clan of protesters could be spiralling into a public relations predicament for the politicians at city hall. The two recent squats have been organized by a grassroots group called the Anti-Poverty Committee. The APC had its fingers in the symbolic three-month Woodward’s squat in 2002. The group’s latest efforts have city councillors bickering about homelessness. “We want to be clear that the mandate for housing and homelessness is with the provincial and federal governments,” Sullivan told reporters. The mayor pleaded municipal poverty, stressing that only eight cents of every tax dollar goes towards cities, compared with 92 cents for the province and feds. Opposition Vision Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson wants the city to tap into its $1.3 million property endowment fund to turn one derelict old hotel into social housing.

Riot Squad Ends Protest

2006-11-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

24Hours--Irwin Loy--Anti-poverty activists are promising rising levels of civil disobedience after squatters were forcibly removed from an empty building for the second time in as many weeks. This time, it took more than two dozen police officers dressed in riot gear to end the squat, which lasted two days in a vacant building at Cambie and Broadway in Vancouver. “This is an escalating campaign,” squatter David Cunningham told reporters after he voluntarily left the building late yesterday afternoon. “I think you can see the difference in how the police responded.” Last week’s squat at an abandoned Downtown Eastside hotel saw a more relaxed police presence. VPD spokesperson Const. Howard Chow defended the squad’s use of riot gear, saying the reported numbers of people in the building and information that rooms had been barricaded warranted the precautions. “We presented every opportunity for the protesters to leave,” Chow said. “We wanted them to walk out on their own as they did last week.” It took about 15 minutes for police to enter the boarded-up building and evict the squatters. Loud yelling and crashing noises could be heard outside the building, where several dozen supporters gathered. About 20 people were thought to have been in the building when the squat began. Some left before yesterday’s actions. In the end there were eight; only one person was arrested and charged with assault by trespass. Earlier in the day, three men, including Downtown Eastside Residents Association director Kim Kerr, were arrested for passing up food and supplies to the squatters.

Vancouver Police Move Squatters Out Of Abandoned City-Owned Building

2006-11-01T23:25:00.000-08:00

News1130--23:25--Reshmi Nair/News1130 Staff--The illegal occupation of an abandoned city-owned building near Vancouver’s City Hall is over. Vancouver police gave the eight squatters an ultimatum. They could leave peacefully and avoid arrest or walk out in handcuffs. Only one person resisted and he’s been charged with trespassing. The structure had been occupied since yesterday by a number of homeless advocates. This follows a number of arrests made by police earlier this afternoon. The first two arrests happened over the noon hour, during a news conference being held by members of the Anti-Poverty Committee. Someone had been attempting to get a duffel bag of food and supplies to the squatters and that’s when police moved in and started making arrests. Kim Kerr with the Downtown Eastside Residents Association was also taken away by police. The third arrest was made when a man attempted to send up a sleeping bag but when he approached the building, police moved in, placed him in handcuffs, and took him away in a paddy-wagon. He did not appear to be affiliated with either with DERA or the Anti-Poverty Committee. Earlier at City Hall, Mayor Sam Sullivan outlined a five-part motion that will appear before council tomorrow. The action plan calls for staff to fast-track the development of three Downtown sites slated for social housing. Sullivan is also asking the provincial government for more money for emergency shelter beds. The Mayor has also planned a homelessness roundtable to take place later this month.

US Homeless Lobby Group Says Vancouver Should Allow Illegal Squats

2006-11-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

News1130--14:31--Claudia Kwan--Michael Stoops with the US-based National Coalition for the Homeless says even substandard housing like abandoned buildings is better than being on the street. “I would call up on the City of Vancouver to declare a moratorium, that they would agree not to arrest or cite or run homeless people out of town to keep homeless people less visible during this very special event.” Stoop claims a crackdown will actually cost taxpayers more in police and court costs, especially if the homeless are forced out to other cities where they’re more likely to be thrown in jail. He explains temporary beds could be opened up in gyms, banquet halls, or military bases. He also believes organizers should commit to employing at least a thousand homeless people for the games, to formally acknowledge there is a problem here.

2 Activists Arrested At New Vancouver Squat

2006-11-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

CBC--14:14--Two anti-poverty activists have been arrested by Vancouver police for sending food, water and blankets into a city-owned building being occupied by squatters, just down the street from city hall. Kim Kerr of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association and a second person were arrested late Wednesday morning at the building at the corner of Cambie Street and West Broadway. Kerr had tied a bag of supplies to a rope that the squatters had lowered from an upper window, and they pulled it up. Police moved in and arrested him immediately. The second man was arrested a few minutes later for trying to do the same thing. Police say the pair could be charged with obstruction. Squatters spokesman Aaron Muirhead told CBC News there had been an agreement with police to meet Wednesday to talk about negotiations to end the occupation. But he says that deal is now off.

Protesters moved in Tuesday. About 20 people took over the abandoned building on Tuesday just a block from city hall, in an effort to draw attention to the city’s homeless situation. Kerr, one of the leaders of the latest squat, also helped organize the recent occupation of Gastown’s North Star Hotel, which ended with his arrest and those of five other protesters. Police had been posted at the new squat site to prevent any supplies from being taken into the protesters. When asked about that strategy at his homelessness news conference on Wednesday, Mayor Sam Sullivan said he will not tolerate the illegal occupation of buildings.

Mayor looking for more money from Victoria, Ottawa. At that news conference, Sullivan unveiled his new homelessness strategy, which for the most part, involves additional funding from the federal and provincial governments. He wants the province to pay for new housing on city-owned land, replace existing single-resident-occupancy (SRO) hotels and provide more emergency shelter beds. The final point of his plan asks the province to finance improvements to the SRO hotels to bring them up to the minimum standard demanded by the city. Opposition Coun. Tim Stevenson of Vision Vancouver called that an admission of failure, saying the city has the power to order landlords to make the improvements, but has not done so.

Update: Third Supporter Arrested

2006-11-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

APC--14:00--The Anti-Poverty Committee is still occupying a building at 2530 Cambie Street (latest call-out with details is attached below). At 2pm, a third supporter was arrested as he attempted to send a sleeping bag to the people inside. People inside the building and out shouted their anger as police arrested and removed another supporter. A press conference and rally are being held at the building today at 5pm to show community support for the people inside and condemn the actions of the police as well as the inaction of the City. For more information about how to help, call 604-728-9550 to speak with an organizer.

Women’s City Hall Housing Takeover Needs Your Support!

2006-11-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

APC--13:11--This morning, Kim Kerr and Thomas Malenfant were arrested and charged with obstruction while attempting to get essential supplies inside the occupied building. Since the building was surrounded by police yesterday afternoon, they have not allowed anything or anyone to enter the building. This includes water, blankets and food. Police also spent the night harassing supporters who were staying outside the building. The APC is demanding the immediate release of Kim and Thomas without any charges. Until this happens, we are not entering into any kind of negotiations with police about exiting the building. Please come down and join supporters as soon as you can. We are especially asking that people come out for a support rally at 5pm this evening. United we will win! Anti-Poverty Committee.

Backgrounder: On Tuesday, October 31 the Anti-Poverty Committee and supporters took an empty city-owned building near City Hall and stated that it would be turned into women's emergency housing. About 150 people gathered on the lawns of City Hall, ready to occupy the city chambers and demand the city council buy a hotel and convert it to social housing. Instead we took housing into our own hands and opened up a building set to be demolished by the city. The police have turned this into an occupation by surrounding the building and preventing free exit and entry. They are blocking the doors and currently, there are eight of our comrades inside. Some supplies have reached the squatters however, the police are not letting anyone or anything enter the building. Having this housing for women is crucial. Women have been brutally attacked by government cuts. Changes to welfare laws, closures of sexual assault centres and women centres, changes to poverty, law, legal aid and family law have all increased the desperation and poverty levels amongst women. Women and especially Aboriginal and racialized women bear the brunt of hotel closures, mass evictions, regressive welfare policies and other conditions of poverty in this province. Many women are also forced to tolerate dangerous and abusive conditions in order to maintain shelter. Although politicians choose to ignore these facts – we will not. With the coming cold and with deepening levels of poverty it is even more dire that we create spaces to house women who are in need of assistance. If the city won’t do it, then we will do it ourselves.

Also from the past week:

October 26: North Star Squatters go to City Hall
October 22: APC occupies North Star Hotel in the Downtown Eastside

Sullivan Vows To Fight Homelessness As Cambie Squat Continues

2006-11-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

News1130--10:01--Lyle Fisher--As protesters continue their sit-in at an abandoned city building on Cambie Street, Vancouver’s mayor says he has an action plan to fight homelessness. Critics of Sam Sullivan say since he’s taken office a year ago, we haven’t seen any real changes on the Downtown Eastside. About 20 people with the Anti Poverty Committee took over the vacant apartment building yesterday. Their original plan was to crash the city council meeting but instead they decided a new squat might be more effective in getting their message across to the mayor. The building is slated to be torn down to make room for the Canada Line. Affordable housing advocates say Sullivan has been too focussed on waving the Olympic flag and is not doing enough to help the homeless. The issue has become even more pressing these days with the unseasonably cold temperatures and a lack of emergency shelter beds.

Members of APC Squat Again

2006-11-01T01:20:00.000-08:00

CKNW--01:20--Members of the Anti Poverty Commitee continue to occupy a City-owned apartment building at Cambie and west Broadway. The social housing advocates began their second squat in as many weeks mid-afternoon Tuesday. Meantime, Mayor Sam Sullivan is set to hold a morning news conference where he’ll announce new measures to increase shelter bed space and call for emergency funding for more single room accomodation for the winter. Sullivan denies pressure from social activist groups has spurred on his announcement, “No, you don’t just dream this stuff up overnight. We know there’s a lot of frustration out there and quite frankly I’m sympathetic to that frustration; but I don’t believe it should be demonstrated by illegal activities. We all have to work together within the law.” There’s no word on when police might move in to break up the squat. The Mayor said Tuesday he hoped the group would leave of their own accord, but at last word the VPD weren’t letting activists either in or out of the building.

Poverty Protesters Take Over Empty Building

2006-11-01T00:00:00.004-08:00

The Globe and Mail--Shannon Kari--About 20 people took over an abandoned building near city hall on the eve of what Mayor Sam Sullivan is billing as an announcement that will include concrete and immediate steps to address Vancouver’s growing homeless crisis. Squatters from an anti-poverty group took control of the low-rise, city-owned building yesterday afternoon in a peaceful protest. It is the same group that occupied a building in the Downtown Eastside for a couple of days last month, in another homelessness-related demonstration. Police blocked off the abandoned building at the intersection of Cambie and Broadway Streets, so no one else could go inside, but there were no immediate plans to evict the protesters. “This is not an adversarial situation,” Vancouver Police Sergeant Fiona Weller said. The officer indicated that police were waiting for instructions from the city. The abandoned building is scheduled for demolition as part of the continuing construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project. Social-housing activist Kim Kerr of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association said the squat yesterday was not a protest against the police. He explained it was a protest against the policies of the municipal Non-Partisan Association party led by Mr. Sullivan. “It is also an action to at least put some walls around some women who would otherwise be out in the street tonight,” Mr. Kerr said. There are at least 1,200 homeless people in the city of Vancouver, and a recent report issued by the Pivot Legal Society projected that the number could increase to more than 3,000 by 2010 because of a lack of affordable housing units. City council and the mayor have been under increasing pressure to announce steps to combat the problem. Mr. Sullivan issued a news release yesterday afternoon to say that he will be announcing new measures this morning to increase the number of shelter beds in the city. The mayor indicated that he will address the need for emergency funding for the aging single-room residential hotels that house about 5,000 people in the Downtown Eastside. The mayor is also promising to respond to recent comments by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell related to homelessness. The Premier promised to increase the provincial shelter allowance, in a speech last week at the annual convention of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The increase will be announced in next year’s provincial budget, although the Premier did not provide any details about how much it might rise. The shelter allowance has remained at $325 a month since 1994 for a single person on social assistance. The provincial government lowered the shelter assistance in 2002 for families with three or more people. The report issued by Pivot included a survey of dozens of the residential hotels in the Downtown Eastside and could find only one building that had any rooms available for $325 a month. Advocates for social housing have also warned of an increase in buildings being converted to other forms of housing, such as student housing, so that owners can charge higher rents. The Single Room Accommodation bylaw in Vancouver requires the owner of any building designated under the regulations to get approval from council and to pay up to $5,000 a unit before it can be converted to another form of housing. The mayor spoke out publicly against the bylaw before it was enacted in 2003, when he was a councillor. Mr. Sullivan voted with the majority on a city council committee in September to defeat a motion to impose a moratorium on the conversion of any buildings designated under the bylaw.

Protesters Skip City Hall To Occupy Another Building

2006-11-01T00:00:00.003-08:00

Metro--Jared Ferrie--Activists illegally occupied another Vancouver building yesterday. About 100 people showed up for what was billed as an anti-homelessness protest at City Hall. But rather than marching into council chambers as promised, they walked a couple blocks north on Cambie Street and entered a building slated to be demolished to make room for the Canada Line. The activists are trying to pressure the city into converting such buildings into social housing to combat rising homelessness. Christy Winters said she was happy to have a roof over her head after spending three weeks sleeping on the street. “I’m going to take a look around and start cleaning up,” she said, adding she was willing to go to jail if necessary.

Squatters Take Over Soon-To-Be Canada Line Station: Activists Plan To Make It A Women’s Shelter

2006-11-01T00:00:00.002-08:00

The Province--John Bermingham and Frank Luba--Another squat has been set up in an abandoned Vancouver building. The squat was organized by the Anti-Poverty Committee, which was responsible for the North Star squat set up Oct. 22 in a privately-owned closed-up building at Hastings and Carrall streets. Yesterday’s squat opened after about 100 demonstrators gathered in front of city hall around 2 p.m. Instead of trying to invade council chambers, the demonstrators moved down the street and took over the building in the 2500-block Cambie Street. The city-owned apartment building was closed in preparation for its demolition as part of the $2-billion Canada Line rapid-transit project between downtown Vancouver and Richmond. The site will become the Broadway station on the Canada Line. But yesterday, squat organizer Mary Cleremont said she plans to have 25 women live in the building. “We are opening up this building as an open squat for women,” she said. “The women will not leave until the City of Vancouver implements its housing plan.” Downtown Eastside Residents Association executive director Kim Kerr supported the squat. “This squat is predominantly women who are without a home and who would spend tonight on the street if it weren’t for being inside this building," said Kerr. Mayor Sam Sullivan said he will not talk to the squatters. “I’m not going to be meeting with people who are breaking the law,” he said. Sullivan has called a press conference for today to outline a five-point plan to tackle the city’s homelessness problem. Sullivan plans to increase the number of shelter beds and fund emergency shelters during the winter. He said he he wants senior governments and the private sector to build social housing. A city hall source said council wants the squatters out, but will leave the timing up to the police.

Protesters Occupy City Building

2006-11-01T00:00:00.001-08:00

Vancouver Sun--Frances Bula--About 20 people occupied a vacant city-owned apartment building at Broadway and Cambie Tuesday afternoon as part of continuing protests over homelessness and the lack of cheap housing in the city. The Anti-Poverty Committee’s protest drew about 60 people in all, many standing on Cambie with banners, as well as a dozen police officers and an ambulance crew monitoring the situation. There were also police, private security and some locked doors at city hall, because the Anti-Poverty Committee said earlier in the week it would come to the council meeting Tuesday afternoon to demand a meeting with Mayor Sam Sullivan. However, the majority ended up going to the occupation instead. Police said they had no plans to force anyone out of the vacant building immediately, and would try to resolve the situation cooperatively. The committee occupied an empty building in the Downtown Eastside last week and stayed for two days, until police were able to locate the owner and get permission to go in and move people out. Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said police “sympathize with their cause but we have to uphold the law.” The occupied building, a pre-Second World War apartment building on Cambie, is vacant because the city plans to tear it down to build the Canada Line.

Squatters Evade Police Blockade

2006-11-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

24Hours--Matt Kieltyka--Squatters who promised last week to barricade themselves inside more abandoned buildings if affordable housing in the city isn’t expanded did just that yesterday. On a clear, chilly Halloween day, 20 protesters surprised everyone when they locked themselves in an apartment building slated for demolition to make room for the Canada Line at 2530 Cambie Street. “This is us putting the Homeless Action Plan in action,” said the Anti-Poverty Committee’s David Cunningham from a second-storey window. “The city is going to spend $22 million to tear down this building. They should use that money and house women that are homeless on that street.” Unlike the high-profile APC- organized squat at an abandoned hotel at 5 West Hastings last week, where six housing activists were eventually arrested, most of the 20 squatters camped out in the apartment are women from the Downtown Eastside. The squat surprised both police and media after APC officials said they were busing DTES residents to City Hall to demand an audience with mayor Sam Sullivan. Several police officers were stationed at the entrance of City Hall when the group of nearly 100 protesters marched south along Cambie Street and surrounded the boarded-up, city-owned building. Squatters then forced their way inside. Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said police had no idea that was the protesters’ plan all along. “We always proposed there would be a series of escalated steps,” said APC’s Jill Chettiar outside the building. “We’re going to continue until the city steps in and implements the Homeless Action Plan in its entirety.” The protesters, who have the support of the PIVOT Legal Society and the Downtown Eastside Residents Association, want the city to buy one residential hotel each year to keep up with housing demand.

If They Won’t Give It Then We’ll Take It

2006-10-31T19:01:00.000-08:00

APC--19:01--The Anti-Poverty Committee and their supporters have taken a city owned building and stated that it will be turned into women’s emergency housing. The police are treating the situation as an occupation and are not allowing anyone to enter the building. They are blocking the doors. Currently, around twenty of our comrades are inside. Having this housing for women is crucial. Women have been brutally attacked by government cuts. Changes to welfare laws, closures of sexual assault centres and women centres, changes to poverty, law, legal aid and family law have all increased the despairation and poverty levels amongst women. With the coming cold and and with deepening levels of poverty it is even more dire that we create spaces to house women who are in need of assistance. If the city won’t do it, then we will do it ourselves. Please come out to 2530 Cambie St (Cambie and Broadway) to show your support. If you have supplies such as blankets, water or flashlights, or food please bring them too. Come out or call 604-728-9550. In solidarity, APC.

Homeless Advocates Take Over Building Near City Hall

2006-10-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

CBC--16:45--A group of advocates for the homeless has taken over another abandoned building in Vancouver, this time just a block from city hall. About 20 protesters occupied the boarded-up, two-storey building at Cambie Street and West Broadway on Tuesday afternoon and say they plan to stay. The Anti-Poverty Committee had planned to occupy the council chambers at Vancouver City Hall. A group of about 100 gathered on the north lawn at city hall early Tuesday afternoon, saying they were set to march in on a city council meeting to voice their displeasure with the current homeless situation. Instead, they marched in the opposite direction, down the hill away from city hall to the building at 2530 Cambie St., which is a high-profile location at a very busy intersection. The publicly owned property, and the building next to it, are slated to become the site of the Broadway station for the Canada Line rapid transit service between downtown Vancouver and the airport. Spokesman Tim [sic] Kerr of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association said the new squat site will be reserved for aboriginal women, as the group is trying to draw attention to the plight of people who need housing help most. Kerr, who helped organize last week's occupation of the derelict North Star Hotel in Gastown, said he’s trying to make the point that the city has numerous vacant buildings and 1,300 people homeless on the streets with winter approaching. Police ended last week’s squat at the request of the owner of the North Star, arresting six protesters. Mayor Sam Sullivan has responded to the latest squat by issuing a news release saying he will hold a news conference on Wednesday morning to deal with the homeless crisis. The mayor says he will outline a five-point motion that will be presented to council later this week that will provide immediate action. It will include a call for emergency funding to keep some of the city’s single-room-occupancy hotels open over the winter.

Homeless Protest Takes Over Abandoned Building

2006-10-31T15:44:00.000-08:00

News1130--15:44--Nikki Pena/Reshmi Nair--What started off as a homeless rally at Vancouver City Hall early this afternoon has turned into something much more. Close to 50 Anti-Poverty Committee protestors have now moved their demonstration to an abandoned builing on Cambie and Broadway. They want to highlight the issue of housing and homelessness in the city. There is a big police presence in the area. Earlier this week, protestors had promised to occupy Mayor Sam Sullivan’s office until he agreed to sit down with them. That demonstration lasted 20 minutes after protestors were told the mayor was in Victoria for the day. Sullivan has invited the group to a community round-table meeting, but the Anti-Poverty Committee has refused.

Halloween Bash at City Hall

2006-10-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Halloween Bash at City Hall
Tuesday, October 31 @ 1:30pm
Buses leave from Pigeon Park at 1pm
“Trick or treat, smell our feet; give the people a place to sleep. If you don’t we will fight; to sleep in peace is a right!”

ALL OUT TO CITY HALL!

Get on the bus to city hall and demand SOCIAL HOUSING NOW! If you don’t have a costume, we got one for you! Bring friends and comrades to this important council meeting and together we will put the homeless plan in action!

A campaign targeting the NPA has been escalating over the last week. The North Star Hotel was occupied to demand that the city convert it into social housing. We are now demanding that all promises made in the city’s Homeless Action Plan be implemented immediately.

Please come out and show your support at city hall (council starts at 2pm). We believe that with a strong enough presence we can force the NPA to fulfill there election promises.

Mayor Won’t Meet Activists

2006-10-27T00:00:00.002-07:00

Metro--Jared Ferrie--Anti-poverty activists are refusing to take part in Mayor Sam Sullivan’s roundtable discussion on homelessness, demanding a meeting with the mayor instead. The Anti-Poverty Committee (APC) is trying to pressure city hall into acting on its Homelessness Action Plan, which recommends buying one building a year to convert into social housing. APC members had vowed to occupy Sullivan’s office until he talked to them yesterday, but the mayor was in Victoria when they showed up. Six activists were charged with trespassing for their three-day occupation of an abandoned Downtown Eastside hotel earlier this week. But the activists promised to escalate their campaign of squats and demonstrations. Sullivan’s spokeswoman, Anna Lilly, urged the APC to take part in the roundtable.

Activists Fail to Meet With Sam Sullivan

2006-10-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

The Province--Ian Austin--(a17)--They came to talk to the mayor about homelessness, but the mayor wasn’t at home. Now members of the Anti-Poverty Committee say they’ll arrive by the hundreds for Tuesday’s Vancouver city council meeting, prepared to be arrested. “I’m willing to be arrested, and I think there are hundreds of people who are willing to be arrested,” organizer David Cunningham shouted outside Mayor Sam Sullivan’s locked office yesterday as wary security guards kept watch. “We’re just asking the city to buy one building for social housing, as they promised in the election.” The housing activists had vowed to wait outside Sullivan’s office until a meeting could be arranged, but were told the mayor was away in Victoria for a conference. Police and security guards kept a close eye on the group, who had threatened not to leave until they spoke with Sullivan. “Sam Sullivan has gone out of his way--in a helicopter--to stay away today,” Cunningham said, as Sullivan’s aide Anna Lilly tried to invite Cunningham to a planned housing dialogue. Lilly said the mayor is inviting senior levels of government to discuss the pressing issue. “We’re holding a round-table discussion in about two weeks,” said Lilly. “The mayor will be happy to have [the Anti-Poverty Committee] at the round-table discussion. There are a number of groups who are equally interested in the homeless issue.”

Mayor Not There To See Protesters

2006-10-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Kim Kerr speaks to the press Wednesday, a day after his arrest for illegally occupying the North Star Hotel with five other protesters. (Dan Toulgoet/The Vancouver Courier)

Vancouver Courier--Mike Howell--Mayor Sam Sullivan has no plans to meet with a protest group that recently occupied an empty hotel in the Downtown Eastside-despite the group’s intentions to conduct a sit-in at his office Thursday. An undisclosed number of Anti-Poverty Committee (APC) members were expected to begin occupying the mayor’s office at 1 p.m. yesterday, after the Courier’s deadline. Their purpose was to meet with the mayor to demand the construction of social housing. Sullivan, however, was en route to Victoria for the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference when he spoke to the Courier Thursday morning. He planned to return to Vancouver today. “I don’t respond well to blackmail,” the mayor said by telephone from a ferry. “I don’t think people who engage in unlawful behaviour-and who are less than civil in their approach to working with people-are people who I’m excited about meeting with.” Sullivan said members of the APC had already spoken to council last week during debate over housing. He said they are likely to attend next Thursday’s council meeting when housing comes up again. The APC held a press conference Wednesday in which it announced the plan to occupy Sullivan’s office. The group also promised to break into other city buildings and stage squats. “Targeting” other NPA politicians, which will include appearing at functions those politicians attend, is also part of their plan. All three speakers at the press conference-Kim Kerr, Anna Hunter and Steph Cameron-were among the six protesters who occupied the empty North Star hotel from early Sunday morning until police arrested them Tuesday. The others were Aaron Muirhead, Tom Malenfant and Katie Dick. All have been charged with assault by trespassing and will appear in provincial court Dec. 11. Malenfant is the only homeless person of the “North Star Six”-a name they’ve given themselves. Kerr, executive director of the Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association, said the group is escalating its action because Sullivan has refused to meet with them. He said the group wants to hold him to a promise they say he made during the 2005 election campaign to buy one building per year and convert it to social housing. “The NPA have made a commitment that they’re going to purchase one hotel a year, and they’re not doing that,” said Kerr, noting several hotels have been shut down. “In fact, they’re acting as an eviction service.” Sullivan denied that he made such a promise but admitted he endorsed the city’s Homeless Action Plan to buy one hotel per year and renovate it for social housing. Sullivan was a councillor when the plan was adopted by council. Despite the protest group’s accusations, the mayor pointed out that the city is negotiating to buy a hotel, but he couldn’t release details. “I know there are efforts within city hall to purchase an SRO [single-room occupancy] hotel,” Sullivan said.

Why Did Sullivan Not Stop Evictions of Low-Income Tenants?

2006-10-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

ACTION BULLETIN: Tell City Council to Stand Up For Housing

Think City--22:24--Last week, Vancouver city council refused to send a message to Vancouver developers to stop market eviction of low-income tenants, and allowed for the continued speculation of Downtown Eastside residential hotels. After dozens of Downtown Eastside residents pleaded for action to slow what has already become a housing crisis in Vancouver, Mayor Sullivan moved to defer a motion that would put a moratorium on all future conversion of single-resident accommodation (SRA) hotels Sullivan’s motion passed by one vote with councillors Cadman, Chow, Deal, Louie, and Stevenson opposed. City council’s decision has outraged residents in the Downtown Eastside sparking a squat in an SRA hotel at the corner of Hastings and Carrall. Housing activists occupied the abandoned North Star Hotel on Oct. 22, fearing more hotels will close as a result of council’s inaction to save affordable housing. Police closed down the squat on Tuesday. The city’s housing crisis is not unique to Vancouver, as housing advocates leafletting this week’s Union of BC Municipalities meeting know all too well. Homelessness has become a province-wide problem since the provincial government cut the Homes BC program, choosing instead to provide rent supplements that fail to address BC’s chronic and mounting affordable housing deficit. Take a minute to email Vancouver city council mayorandcouncil@city.vancouver.bc.ca to ask why the city did not take the opportunity to stop rising homelessness.

Vancouver Mayor Extends Invitation, Anti-Poverty Committee Says No

2006-10-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

News1130--Nikki Pena--16:39--Vancouver’s mayor is extending an invitation to the Anti-Poverty Committee to sit down and talk about the issue of homelessness. But the group says it won’t show up. Members say the round table session Sam Sullivan is planning within the next three weeks is not the meeting they had requested from the mayor. Earlier today, the group said it would occupy Sullivan’s office until he agreed to a one on one session. They were told the mayor was in Victoria today and wouldn’t be able to meet. Today’s planned protest at City Hall lasted about 20 minutes with protestors promising to come back for next Tuesday’s scheduled council meeting. Sullivan’s round table meeting is expected to include several community groups and senior levels of government. He hopes to talk about the issues of housing and homelessness and come up with solutions.

Anti-Poverty Committee Stage Protest at Vancouver City Hall

2006-10-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

News1130--Nikki Pena--15:32--Some Anti-Poverty Committee members are in it for the long haul. They’re promising to occupy Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan’s office until he agrees to have a meeting with them regarding his Homeless Action Plan. That meeting likely won’t happen today as the mayor’s office says Sullivan is in Victoria. Police however, have been called in to help deal with the protestors.

Activists Threaten to Occupy City Hall

2006-10-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

CKNW--12:40--Vancouver’s Anti-Poverty Committee says activists will occupy Vancouver City Hall if the mayor doesn’t agree to meet with the group this afternoon. They say Mayor Sam Sullivan and council have had a year to institute a plan of action against homelessness and if the city isn’t going to do anything, members will start taking over city-owned buildings and opening them up to the homeless.

Squat or Die

2006-10-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

GNN--Zoe Blunt--http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2682/Squat_or_Die

Squatters Demand Meeting With Mayor

2006-10-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Anti-Poverty Committee, and squatters who occupied a building this week, called a news conference to announce plans. From left: squatters Kim Kerr, Anna Hunter and Steph Cameron. (Wayne Leidenfrost/The Province)

North Star Six will squat in another building if talk with Sullivan unsuccessful.

The Province--Ian Austin (A40)--The Anti-Poverty Committee yesterday promised to up the ante in its battle to get more social housing built in Vancouver. Just a day after six squatters were removed by police from an abandoned Downtown Eastside building, the group said it will march to city hall and demand a meeting with Mayor Sam Sullivan today. “We have people who are willing to be arrested, who are willing to do whatever it takes to get more social housing built in this city,” said Anna Hunter, one of six squatters who were removed from the building on Hastings Street and charged with assault by trespass. “We are sending a delegation to Sam Sullivan’s office at 1 p.m., and we will not leave until we’ve had a meeting with the mayor,” said Hunter. The APC also released a list of 19 sites owned or optioned by the city and reserved for social housing. The group said if today’s meeting with Sullivan isn’t successful, the squatters intend to move to one or more of those sites to continue their political campaign. Steph Cameron, another of the so-called North Star Six squatters, said the campaign has been a success. “We had a message, and we delivered a message,” said Cameron, who along with the other five squatters agreed to stay away from the original squat location adjacent to Pigeon Park. “I think our message was received by the public and the media and by the city,” said Cameron. Squatter Kim Kerr said he and his squatting cohorts did nothing wrong, and the only crime is the way the homeless are treated. “We have hundreds of people living in substandard conditions, and at least 1,300 people sleep on the streets every night,” said Kerr. “This is an act of civil disobedience--it is our intention to continue to squat.”

A Right To Buy In The City?

2006-10-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

Coun. Kim Capri was hung in effigy on the lawn of City Hall after suggesting dorm-style-housing could help the homeless.

Georgia Straight--Pieta Woolley--This week, six hoodie- and cap-wearing squatters at the abandoned North Star Hotel became the public face of the Lower Mainland’s housing crisis. Their demand was to meet with Mayor Sam Sullivan and ask him to build more social housing. The week of October 16—Homelessness Awareness Week—it was the Carnegie Action Program’s 10-by-10-foot “suite” on the lawn of Vancouver City Hall, built there after Vancouver city Coun. Kim Capri suggested dorm-style accommodation for the homeless. On October 3, it was the provincial minister responsible for housing, Rich Coleman, announcing his plans for $40 million per year in direct-to-landlord rent subsidies for working families earning less than $20,000 annually. But one self-described “leftie developer” has added up local average incomes and average housing prices and told the Straight that Vancouver’s housing crisis affects many more than just the poorest of the poor. The faces of the real housing crisis, Howard Rotberg said, are three. First, those households earning less than $30,000, which represent Vancouver’s poorest citizens and are in need of true social housing. Second, those earning from about $30,000 to $55,000, who represent the city’s average families. And now, a category for those earning from $55,000 to $110,000—or up to double the mean income. “Even at $110,000 a year, a family cannot afford a house in Vancouver,” said Rotberg, who added that home ownership contributes to family stability and equity and is a reasonable goal for working Canadians. “Young people have been duped into believing there’s nothing government can do to help them get into the market. They do not understand that government policies actually are stacked against them.” Rotberg commutes to Ontario, where he builds affordable housing. He can’t do the same in B.C., he said, because unlike almost every other jurisdiction in North America, this province does not offer incentives to developers to build reasonably priced accommodation. Elsewhere, he said, governments create community land trusts, waive development costs and permit fees, give breaks on property taxes, among other measures. It works in other jurisdictions, he said, and it would work here, too. In addition, Rotberg argued that those on the edge of home ownership deserve a piece of the housing pie as much as those who already own. Developers here can rip down reasonably priced apartments and make a killing on high-priced condos without even paying a demolition tax, he said. The seniors’ property-tax deferral program allows the elderly to put off paying their property taxes until they sell their homes or die. The provincial government spends $500 million a year subsidizing property taxes for those whose homes are worth less than $780,000, and another $50 million on property-transfer-tax exemptions for owners. Surely if the government has money to give owners, he said, there should be money available to help young families. “I contend that if there is any right at all with respect to housing,” Rotberg said, “it is a right for every working person to be able to afford decent housing somewhat near where they work, and for every disabled person who cannot work to have social housing.” Thom Armstrong, the executive director of the Cooperative Housing Federation of B.C., agrees. He told the Straight that the last housing co-op built in Vancouver was constructed in 2001, and that co-ops are the cheapest way for governments to provide affordable housing. Plus, they house people with a range of incomes, from the very poor to professionals. What’s holding government back? “It’s ideological,” Armstrong said. “They’ve got a faith in private-sector solutions to the housing market….Also, investing in supply looks really expensive.” He also noted that the housing crisis is “going to get worse before it gets better”. The parable of Alberta, where high-income folk are living in their cars because there’s no housing, hasn’t warned B.C. yet. Neither has the spectre of homelessness in the Lower Mainland. Rotberg thinks it’s in the hands of young people to educate themselves about the crisis and demand change from their government.

There Could Be Limited Elbow Room in Mayor’s Office

2006-10-26T03:50:00.000-07:00

CKNW--03:50--Vancouver’s Anti Poverty Committee says if City Hall won’t implement an action plan to address the City’s homelessness problem, they’ll do it for them. On the heels of a protest earlier this week that saw social housing activists take over the former North Star Hotel on west Hastings Street, spokesperson David Cunningham says if the Mayor won’t take a meeting with protestors this afternoon, they’ll be ramping up a civil disobedience campaign, “We only took one building and one floor and we left without any confrontation. When we take the next building or buildings, we will be much more confrontational, we’ll open the building up to as many people as we can get inside so as to provide some type of subsistent shelter from the streets that they’ve been forced out into because of Sam Sullivan and his fellow Councillors.” The group plans to occupy the Mayor’s office starting at 1 p.m. until Sullivan agrees to meet. Previously, Sullivan has been clear he won’t meet with activists while they’re engaged in any illegal activity.

APC Plans to Occupy Sammy’s Office

2006-10-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

APC--16:43--The Anti-Poverty Committee is sending a delegation to mayor Sam Sullivan’s office on Thursday at 2pm. If Sullivan refuses to meet with the activists they intend to occupy his office until he does. Mary Clermount explained, “We want Sam to have a sincere discussion with us so that we can work together in figuring out the best way to move forward with his parties Homeless Action Plan. We will not leave until he speaks with us.” She went on to add, “All we want is that the politician’s who made this homeless plan, to act on it. So far we are the only political organisations to put the plan into action. Having a plan does not create shelter. The NPA needs to put their money where their mouth is.” When asked to reply to Sam Sullivan’s repeated explanation that the city owns several potential sites, she said, “We have analysed the information from those sites and estimate that building social housing on those properties owned by the city would be roughly over $32 million. We are not asking for all sites to be developed all at once. Surly with all the money the city has spent on the Olympics we can have some left over for homes not games.” If the NPA refuses to immediately develop one of these properties or convert an empty hotel the APC will squat one or more of those sites and open them to the homeless population. “We have proven that we can take the buildings and bring out support. At the last squat we took only one floor and left without confrontation. If the NPA forces us to escalate our campaign we will do so with a higher level of confrontation. We will not easily be moved.”

More Squats Are Likely Until Governments Start to Help the Homeless

2006-10-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Sun--The squat in an abandoned hotel on Hastings Street in Vancouver this week should serve as an urgent wake-up call to city, provincial and federal politicians. Police broke up the squat on Tuesday afternoon, and that’s just as well since squats aren’t a solution to anything. They’re usually organized by activists rather than people who really need help. But the problems which have led to this state of affairs are far from new; warnings about the increase in the numbers of people in our communities without decent places to live have been growing, with disheartening figures about the increase in homelessness coming in from all over, from Victoria to the Tri-Cities area in the Lower Mainland. But the unsettling trend has continued apace. Many single-occupancy rooms have disappeared, and this phenomenon doesn’t show any sign of slackening, as the prospect of Olympic gold in 2010 helps to keep the real-estate market hot for conversion to “higher and better” uses. These rooms, appalling as many of them are, remain the last chance for a growing number of people to avoid sleeping on the streets or in the few emergency shelter beds that various social agencies can offer. Thankfully, Vancouver’s civic leaders have been making some effort to find creative solutions. The recent suggestion of dormitory-style accommodation with 100-square-foot rooms and shared amenities such as kitchens and bathrooms at least shows a willingness to look at new options. The province has also made some strides, with Housing Minister Rich Coleman recently announcing 450 additional supportive housing units and a rental assistance program for low-income families. But the simple fact is that Vancouver is still not even meeting its own targets for social-housing creation in more traditional forms. Its avowed goal is 800 new housing units a year, but so far, only 292 units are under construction. Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan says council will discuss the homeless issue in coming weeks, and points out that the “real responsibility” for this shameful state of affairs rests with senior governments in Victoria and Ottawa. At the annual meeting of the Union of B.C. Municipalities in Victoria this week, Coleman responded that he has the money and desire to build more social housing, but accused municipal politicians of a failure to show leadership. As winter nears, it’s time for this bickering between various levels of government to stop. The weather is getting colder and wetter. For those without shelter, many of whom suffer from mental illness or addictions or both, this is not an inconvenience; it’s life-threatening. It’s also time for politicians at all levels to work together to provide solutions. The province's rental assistance program and city councillors’ proposal to build dormitory-style residences are promising, and politicians would do well to consider revisiting the long-frozen welfare housing allowance of $325 a month, and to provide incentives to developers to build affordable housing. This will require the feds, the province and the city to work together. But if they continue to pass the buck instead, the prospect of more squats unfortunately appears increasingly likely.

Housing Squatters Turfed?

2006-10-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

Protests heat up on both sides of the Strait.

The Tyee--Richard Warnica--CBC reported today that police have given protestors occupying a downtown Vancouver building until 1:00 p.m. to clear out. The report comes a day after Victoria’s men (and women) in blue used tear gas during a housing protest in the Garden City. The Vancouver squatters say they won’t budge until Sam Sullivan agrees to a sit down, something the Mayor has so far refused. Which is probably a good thing according to the Courier’s Alan Garr. Garr says Sullivan and his housing point woman Kim Capri have dropped the ball on social housing. “During Sullivan's 10 months and with Capri taking a lead role on the issue, the number of approved units (155) is lower than any of the past three years (400, 400, and 300),” Garr wrote in a recent column. Of course, that’s not really shocking since one of the new council’s first acts last January was to gut the non-market housing from the South East False Creek development. Garr goes on to lay much of the blame for the housing crisis on the provincial government. But, as the Tyee reported in 2004, budget cutting federal governments under Mulroney and Chrétien had a lot to do with it too. The jury, meanwhile, is still out on the B.C. Libs new housing strategy, which would put rent top ups into the pockets of low-income families. For a some more background on the issue, try this Tyee story on the Vision/COPE housing record, or this one on Sullivan’s mixed support for the Woodward’s project.

Police Evict Vancouver Squatters

2006-10-24T02:42:00.000-07:00

Vancouver police escort one of six protesters squatting in an abandoned hotel on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Tuesday. (Chuck Stoody/Canadian Press)

CBC--17:56--Vancouver police have moved in and ousted a small group of homeless activists from an abandoned hotel in the city’s Downtown Eastside. Police read a final warning before 20 officers entered the vacant North Star hotel on Tuesday afternoon and removed the six squatters one by one. There was no resistance by the protesters and the eviction took place without incident. As this was happening, a large crowd gathered on the street in front of the hotel shouting, “No homes, no peace.” When the police wagon headed up Main Street en route to the police station, about 100 people followed it. There, they staged a second demonstration, facing a double line of police officers blocking the front door of the Main Street police station. David Cunningham of the Anti-Poverty Committee, which organized the hotel occupation, said there will be similar protests. He warned more squatters could take over another building in the troubled neighbourhood as early as Wednesday. Cunningham said his group will keep up the pressure until Vancouver city council agrees to meet with it to discuss social housing needs. The protesters had moved into the hotel on Sunday, following the decision by Vancouver city council to put off a proposed moratorium on the conversion of single-room residential hotels.

Vancouver and Victoria Step Up the Fight for Housing

2006-10-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

OCAP--20:39--On Sunday October 22nd the Anti-Poverty Committee of Vancouver occupied the North Star Hotel, followed a day later by an squat in Victoria at the Janion building. Just weeks before OCAP marches on The Pope Squat at 1510 King Street W in Toronto we give our full support and encouragement to this much needed escalation in the struggle for housing. Four years ago, OCAP’s original occupation of the Pope Squat was followed by the occupation of the Woodwards Squat in Vancouver--this time we will be following the lead of APC and our friends in Victoria in fighting for decent affordable housing now. To get involved in the March on the Pope Squat call OCAP at 416 925 6939. Remember that there will be a Memorial Service for Vasyl--a former resident of the Pope Squat at 1510 King Street tommorow night--Tuesday October 24th beginning at 7:00pm. SQUAT IN VICTORIA! Currently the empty building known as the “Janion” building is being squated by a coalition of anti-poverty activists, members of the homeless community and people committed to accessible, affordable, and decent housing. This action takes place as the mayors and councilors from across BC are converging on Victoria for the annual convention of the Union of BC Municipalities. The squatters are asking for supporters to go down and stand in solidarity with them in the fight for housing, dignity and respect. The Janion building is on the corner of Wharf and Pandora, across the street from Swans, near the Johnson St. bridge. For more information call 250-920-9091. SQUAT IN VANCOUVER! The empty building formally known as the North Star Hotel is currently being occupied by a handful of people. A demonstration organised by the Anti-Poverty Committee marched to the building with 200-250 protesters. Occupiers inside hung banners out the top story windows as the march got out front the building. Currently the APC is waiting for an official police order before moving people into the building. The police have stated that they will have a meeting with the city Monday morning and then make there position known. The police have stated to lawyers that they will not move on the building until after that meeting. For more information on how to get involved please contact the APC office at 604.682.3276 or come by the office at 327 Carrall St.

What is a Squat? Why do I Squat?

2006-10-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

Mostly Water--An Anarchist--http://mostlywater.org/what_is_a_squat_why_do_i_squat

Police to Pay Visit to Squatters

2006-10-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

CKNW--17:50--Vancouver Police say they do not expect any problems when they go in to remove protestors from a building on the Downtown Eastside. The owner of the vacant hotel at Number Five West Hastings is now asking police to get involved. Constable Tim Fanning says police are working on their plans and may remove the protestors tomorrow--he doesn’t have an exact time frame yet. He says homelessness has become a significant issue for the VPD.

Your Support is Needed at Squat!

2006-10-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

APC--11:00--Please find time today to make your way down to 8 W. Hastings (beside pigeon park) to support the occupation of North Star hotel. The top floor of building is occupied by a handfull of people who are demanding that the NPA immediately convert the building into social housing. We request your solidarity on site. If you have any questions please contact us at the APC office at 604.682.3276, 327 Carrall (beside Pigeon Park). HOUSING NOW!

North Star Squat Support Rally Tuesday, 12:30 pm

2006-10-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

APC--10:43--APC calls on all supporters of social housing to come to an emergency rally at APC’s North Star Squat tommorrow. The Anti-Poverty Committee is demanding that Sam Sullivan meet with the squatters by 1pm Tuesday afternoon. Today, the Vancouver Police Department made an offical police order that they will be coming to remove the squatters on Tuesday at 1pm. NPA YOUR TIME IS UP! GIVE IT OR GUARD IT! We need as many people as possible to come out and help stand in solidarity with the SQUAT, protect the squatters inside and support the call for the NPA to follow through on there promise of buying one hotel per year for social housing.

Anti-Poverty Squat a “Last Resort”

2006-10-23T02:30:00.000-07:00

CBC--09:12--Vancouver homeless activists have taken over an abandoned hotel in the city’s Downtown Eastside as part of their campaign for more social housing. The Anti-Poverty Committee, which organized the squat, staged a rally of about 100 people outside the former North Star hotel on Sunday afternoon but allowed only eight in to occupy the building in a bid to avoid a confrontation with police. Half a dozen police officers watched from across the street, but did not make any moves to stop the occupation. “We are not going into the building until we contact the owner or until there is perhaps a health and safety issue,” Vancouver police spokesman Const. Tim Fanning said. The action came after Vancouver city council’s decision last week to defer a vote on a proposed moratorium on the conversion of single-room residential hotels. Anti-Poverty Committee spokesman David Cunningham said the occupation is the only way to get the attention of politicians. “Everybody has exhausted the legal obligation that one needs to undergo to demand social housing. Push has come to shove. We need to occupy these buildings because we feel that’s the last resort that poor people have.” Cunningham said his group wants city council to convert the building to social housing, and find “decent housing” for the homeless until the hotel conversion is completed. The Anti-Poverty Committee also organized the Woodwards squat in the Downtown Eastside in 2002. That protest lasted three months.

Activists Occupy Hotel

2006-10-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Homelessness protesters await police reaction before stepping up squat

Activists occupy the abandoned North Star hotel (5 West Hastings St.) yesterday, unfurling a banner reading, “Homes Now.” They are protesting the closure of hotels that house low-income residents. Yesterday was the final day of Homelessness Awareness Week. (Jared Ferrie/Metro Vancouver)

Metro--Jared Ferrie--About 80 protesters gathered yesterday at Pigeon Park to demand that the city provide social housing, while eight others occupied the abandoned North Star Hotel, just around the corner at 5 West Hastings St. Homelessness is on the rise in Vancouver, partly due to closures of cheap hotels that house some of the city’s poorest residents. David Cunningham, of the Anti-Poverty Committee, said organizers were waiting to gauge reaction from police before bringing more people into the squat. “We don’t want to lead in a bunch of homeless people to get arrested,” said Cunningham, who promised further demonstrations and occupations in the weeks to come. At press time, police were trying to determine who owned the building before taking any action. “The Vancouver Police Department has always stood behind any initiative to get people off the streets,” said Const. Tim Fanning, adding that police want to make sure any protests are peaceful. In expletive-loaded statements, Cunningham slammed the current and past municipal governments for allowing hotels to close down, forcing some occupants onto the street. “There are empty buildings and there are people on the street. That is a crime,” yelled Theo Collins into a microphone hooked up to a small p.a. The focus on homelessness dissolved somewhat as the microphone was passed around. “I’ve been in Pigeon Park for 20 years and I’m not going anywhere,” shouted one man, before lighting a crack pipe. Another shared his thoughts on U.S. President George W. Bush. From the fourth-storey window above, one of the squatters, Kim Kerr, yelled down that he wanted people to remember what the protest was about. “We want the city of Vancouver to live up to its promise—a promise to buy one hotel a year,” said Kerr, who is director of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association.

Another Hastings Street Squat Springs Up

2006-10-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

CKNW--23:50--Organizers of an illegal squat on the Downtown Eastside are hoping for another Woodwards-style occupation to force politicians into taking action. There are eight people occupying a four storey building at Hastings and Carrall that was shut down in 1999. Of the eight squatters, two are homeless. A small crowd of supporters is gathered outside the building as police monitor the situation. Constable Tim Fanning says police won’t act unless they have to, “People are protesting. We’re waiting to contact the owners and if there’s no concerns with people’s safety inside, we’re standing fast until we speak with the owners.” The squat is organized by the Anti Poverty Committee, the same group responsible for the Woodward’s occupation.

North Star Hotel Squatted for Housing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

2006-10-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Now Public--Dutchphoto--21:15--At 4:30 (PST) one hundred and fifty housing activists turned out to open a squatted building in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside at 5 West Hastings Street. The North Star Hotel had been sitting empty since 1999 since it was ordered shut down by Vancouver City Council. The Anti-Poverty Committee (APC) squat could provide homes for 30 local residents in a city where hundreds sleep outside each night. APC supporters chanted “Homes Not Games” and are asking the City of Vancouver to purchase the building for housing, rather than spending money on hosting the 2010 Olympics. Large 30 foot banners were unfurled from the top floor protesting the Olympics Games and the lack of affordable housing. With the Games fast approaching, and a housing and public health crisis continuing, there is community pressure on governments to house the homeless. Many low income residents have been forced out of hotels recently closed or converted–with 300 low-income people being evicted since June 2005. According to a City of Vancouver report from December 1999, the North Star Hotel had been shut down due to the landlord permitting prostitution, drug trafficking, and the lack of maintenance, sanitary and fire safety standards being met. In 2004 the Hotel’s owner had been courting a local non-profit organization, Atira Women’s Resource Society, to redevelop the building for women’s housing. The owner would have handed over the property title to the society or lease it to the group for $1 a year over several years. But for a variety of reasons, the owner soon lost interest. The owner would have benefited by receiving valuable heritage density bonuses once the 1890s building was restored. Heritage density bonuses can be sold to permit other projects in the city to have more floor space than would normally be allowed. Recently, the adjacent building at 1 West Hastings, being developed by the Portland Hotel Society, was allocated $3 million in heritage density bonuses from the City. Pivot Legal Society, which advocates for poor people’s legal rights states: “These SRO buildings are being destroyed or converted to tourist use at a rate four times higher than that expected by City Council. While some of these rooms have been scheduled to be replaced by new construction, most of these living spaces will never be recovered.” Local housing critics gathering at today’s protest also criticized the City's lack of enforcement of housing standards for poor people, and allowing buildings to gradually become inhabitable and then gentrified. More than 20 Vancouver police officers were on hand photographing and videotaping the opening of the squat. The high profile site is strategically located in the heart of the neighbourhood which has seen the homelessness rate double since 2002. [With nine photographs by Dutchphoto and JMV at http://www.nowpublic.com/node/134165.]

Photos From the Housing Occupation (APC)

2006-10-22T20:00:00.001-07:00

Report Back From Housing Occupation

2006-10-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

APC occupies the former North Star hotel.

APC--20:00--The empty building formally known as the North Star Hotel is currently being occupied by a handful of people. A demonstration organised by the Anti-Poverty Committee marched to the building with 200-250 protesters. Occupiers inside hung banners out the top story windows as the march rallied infront of the building. Currently the APC is waiting for an official police order before moving people into the building. The police have stated that they will have a meeting with the city Monday morning and then make there position known. The police have stated to lawyers that they will not move on the building until after that meeting. Over the evening shifts have been organised to support the occupation. In the morning a call-out has been made for supporters to attend a breakfast meeting at 8 am at the APC office to discus the on going situation. For more information on how to get involved please contact the APC office at 604.682.3276 or come by the office at 327 Carrall St.

Buy It or Guard It

2006-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Homes Not Games! Upcoming Housing Actions

2006-10-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

APC--18:40--The Anti-Poverty Committee calls on all people who are sick and tired of standing by while our brothers and sisters are forced to sleep on the streets. These deplorable conditions are created by despicable people who we can no longer allow to hide! This housing offensive has been organised across Canada with organisations including the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty and Communitys In Solidarity Coalition Victoria. We will target all levels of our vile government and bring the war on the poor into their offices and meetings. The struggle for housing is fought tooth and nail. And we intend to win.

SQUAT! NPA Your Time Is Up!
Sunday Oct 22 @ 4pm
Meet and march from Pigeon Park (Carral & Hastings) and support a housing take over that demands the city purchase and covert the empty building into social housing. Dinner will follow at Oppenheimer Park.

Homes Not Games!
Wednesday Oct 25th @ 12-noon 999 Canada Place
Crash the meeting being held between the Board of Trade and the Vancouver Olympic Committee.

Halloween Bash at City Hall
Tuesday Oct. 31 @ 1:30pm Buses leave from Pigeon Park
‘Trick or treat, smell our feet; give the people a place to sleep. If you don’t we will fight; to sleep in peace is a right!’

Not Sheltered from the Storm!
Wednesday November 8th @ Main St. Sky Train Station
Demand BC Housing invest in social housing--not dirty mats in shitty shelters.

Community Meeting On Homelessness, Capitalism/Colonialism & Resistance
Nov 11th @ 327 Carrall st @ 2pm
Strategize with the people fighting poverty from the front-lines.

WE ONLY GET WHAT WE ORGANISE TO TAKE!

S Q U A T !

NPA YOUR TIME IS UP! BUY IT OR GUARD IT!

Every night thousands of poor people are forced to squat in abandoned buildings, parks, alleys or anywhere else hidden from the police. On October 22 at 4pm, marching from Pigeon Park, the Anti-Poverty Committee calls for your solidarity to support a SQUAT! Following the action will be a dinner at Oppenheimer Park. NPA YOUR TIME IS UP! One year ago the NPA was elected with the promise to purchase one building a year and convert it into social housing. We demand that they do so immediately! Come out and use your presence to defend those inside who are fighting for the right to sleep in peace! Let the city know they have to BUY IT OR GUARD IT!!

Backgrounder

With the election of the NPA, social cleansing in the DTES has escalated. Hotels have been purged of poor tenants and the buildings razed to make room for condos. With more yuppies come more cops. And with increased policing comes further displacement. People with no homes find no peace running from police--because it is illegal to sleep in parks or alleys.

The wrecking balls of Olympic gentrification that are demolishing people’s homes in the DTES are an extension of the bulldozers of colonization that destroy indigenous land. With this understanding we fight colonization in our neighborhoods to support the struggles of communities throughout unceded British Columbia.

The central demand of this squat is that the city must begin purchasing back the hotels they have closed. We are not so naive as to believe that city officials will betray their class interests and sell out the condo developers. Rather we believe that with the power of a united movement we can force the city to fulfill their election promises.

Throughout and following their election campaign, the NPA endorsed the Homelessness Action Plan. Among other things, the plan would have the City purchase at least one SRO building a year and convert it into social housing.

Since Mayor Sam Sullivan pledged his support for the Plan his council has overseen the closure of a dozen hotels, the eviction of hundreds of tenants and the removal of the Homelessness Action Plan itself!

At the time of the Homelessness Action Plan’s public introduction and its various “community consultations” APC was present to voice our mistrust of the city and to make suggestions to the community on how best to proceed with a realistic policy at a grassroots level.

We stressed that the only recommendations worth exploring with in the plan where those buried in appendix B (the fine print of the fine print). Appendix B is where the suggestions made by homeless persons themselves are found. Their recommendations to ease the homelessness catastrophe were immediate squatter rights, rent control, tent cities and less policing of poverty.

With the understanding that we can not rely on the capitalist system that creates the conditions of poverty to end homelessness we wholeheartedly affirm our support for those recommendations and demand that the action plan be reinstated with those solutions set as policy.

Because the city refuses to take action on converting buildings we will!

We will help SQUAT a vacant building that has been closed by the city in their campaign of Olympic gentrification. We expect that their response will be to spend exorbitant amounts of money policing the building (that they have promised to buy) and arresting homeless activists (whom they have promised to house). It’s our hope that your presence outside the building will prevent the police from responding in their usual violent manner.

NPA YOUR TIME IS UP!
BUY IT OR GUARD IT!
HOMES NOT GAMES!

The Anti-Poverty Committee is an organization of poor and working people, who fight for poor people, their rights and an end to poverty by any means necessary. For more information on the Anti-Poverty Committee’s on-going campaigns, visit http://apc.resist.ca/home. Contact us by e-mailing apc@resist.ca or phoning 604-682-3276.

If you are able to donate financially to our legal defense or other campaigns, deposits can be made directly into our account at any branch of Vancity (account is listed under “Anti-Poverty Committee”). Cheques or money orders made out to the APC can be mailed to P.O. Box 1, 12 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1N1.

UNITED WE WILL WIN!