New Victoria homeless camp grows

Neighbour says those staying there don’t clean up

VICTORIA — Less than a year after the tent city on the courthouse lawn was closed by the province, another downtown park is becoming a focal point for homelessness issues in Victoria.

Reeson Park, a small green space on Wharf Street, next to the Johnson Street Bridge, has long been a spot where a few homeless people might camp overnight.

But a recent increase in campers and personal items stored on the walkways has drawn the ire of neighbours, while a planned redevelopment of the park has poverty advocates crying foul over displacement of the city’s homeless in favour of gentrification.

At least half a dozen packed carts and suitcases lined the sidewalk on a recent weekday afternoon.

A handful of people sitting on the steps passed around cans of beer and a joint as groups of tourists walked by and others enjoyed the sun on the lawn.

On the sidewalk above the park, Roy Osmond tied his belongings into a tightly packed shopping cart while his wife and dog napped on the pavement.

The 57-year-old, who was a welder living in his van before he became homeless, has camped overnight at the park for more than a month.

At first, there were about five people, he said. “Now it’s 10 to 18.” He has tried living in shelters, but was always separated from his wife or kicked out.

“One guy told me the people in the condos didn’t pay for a view to get an eyesore like us. What the hell is he talking about? We’re homeless,” Osmond said.

Chris Lawson lives in Dockside Green in Vic West and walks by Reeson Park most mornings. He said he noticed campers before, but it wasn’t an issue because they packed up every morning.

“Now there’s stuff strewn everywhere 24-7,” said Lawson, who contacted the bylaw office and city council.

In an email from the mayor’s office, Lawson was told “there is no bylaw provision that precludes the individuals to vacate the park during the day,” but that the city and police are monitoring it and working with the province to improve housing options.

“They basically said it’s a problem for other levels of government,” he said. “I disagree. Keeping the streets and sidewalks clear is up to the city. It’s a hazard … and it’s embarrassing.”

Bowen Osoko from the Victoria Police Department said police, city staff and the province are focusing their efforts on the park.

“This would indicate an elevated need,” he said, adding police community officers visit the site daily to speak with campers and move them along during the day. He said it’s not their protocol to throw out anyone’s belongings, but officers may seize or dispose of garbage or abandoned items.

Ryan Seguin, 38, and his wife have lived at Reeson Park for about a month. He worked on fixing one of their bikes while she slept on the sidewalk against their bags of belongings.

“Each day, we get everything up and tear it down. There’s not much time for anything else,” Seguin said.

The couple came from Saskatoon via Nanaimo, where they advocated for supervised drug-consumption sites.

“We’re both trying to get into addictions programs,” he said, adding they are registered with the city’s supportive housing service. “Then we can go from there.”

— Victoria Times Colonist