Riverfront squatter given time to find proper spot to live
Steve Borik has been given some time before his charming little squat on the Fraser River is torn down.
Last week, Borik complained to The Province that the neat and tidy squat he built from scratch in south Vancouver with scrap material was about to be ripped down.
Transit Police had given him a deadline of May 12 to be out of the squat but following the publicity, Borik was told he wouldn’t be booted off the private property and can live there until he finds proper accommodation.
“It’s all good right now,” Borik said Tuesday. “As of now, they are holding off tearing the squat down.”
Perched on the north bank of the Fraser River next to a large empty industrial lot in south Vancouver with the SkyTrain off in the distance, Borik, 56, cleared thorn bushes and overgrown grass and used his carpenter’s skills to turn the empty space into a comfortable waterfront refuge six months ago.
Borik claims to have no drug or alcohol issues and said he became homeless following a tough divorce and major surgery for a ruptured bowel.
One day as he was wandering around south Vancouver, he stumbled upon the waterfront lot adjacent to a large plot of undeveloped, fenced-off land.
And since it was out of the way, he also thought no one would care if he lived there.
For the first five months, Borik had no trouble. But then he was given the final notice to vacate by Transit Police, who are proceeding with the eviction on behalf of Port Metro Vancouver and the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resources.
Under a notice to clear the property, Borik was supposed to have all his belongings off the site by last Wednesday and a contractor was coming in to clear the campsite Thursday morning.
Borik continues to work part-time as a carpenter and insists he does not want welfare or handouts.
Right now, he is working as much as he can to get some money together for a place to stay.
“I will have to come up with some money for rent,” he said of his move out of the squat.
“Sometimes you have to move on.”