Many provincial officials are in Prince George for the BC Natural Resources Forum this week – some took the time to tour the town’s homeless encampment yesterday (Tuesday).
This was in response to the call from multiple local outreach groups who wrote a letter to BC Premier David Eby calling on him to make a stop at Moccasin Flats while up north.
While Eby did not go to the encampment, Roly Russell, the Boundary-Similkameen MLA and Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, did.
“My main takeaway was I was very impressed with the sense of community there… that was remarkable,” he told My PG Now.
The tour was taken with other provincial staff, some Moccasin Flats outreach workers, and a few of the people who reside there.
Russel said he heard their primary message loud and clear: “in order to do a good job supporting those vulnerable people we need to bring together the provincial government and municipality, but do that with engagements and insights from the community on the ground as well.”
Phillip Fredriksson, an End Homelessness Canada volunteer, was one of the outreach workers who took the tour with Russel.
“Everyone was able to come in with their questions and [Russel] was very personable with all of the unhoused in Moccasin Flats that were out on the walk,” Fredriksson said. “When we got back to the wellness centre he wanted to see and talk to the people. I appreciated that.”
The visit was impactful, Fredriksson said residents were excited and talking about it well after Russel left, saying “He was really polite, just a pleasant person.”
The visit follows a massive housing announcement from the city and province on Monday – a 44 unit transitional housing project with capacity for 88 total people, complete with drinking water, washrooms, and food facilities, is on its way to Moccasin Flats.
“I really think the challenge is bringing in insights from the local community as well,” Russel said, regarding the announcement.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it actually passed,” Fredriksson said. “I am so grateful that transitional housing is being put so close to the encampment, it brings a sense of comfort to the people there.”
“They’ll be able to live independently and that is when we have the opportunity to bring in wraparound services – mental health workers, social workers, whatever they require,” he explained.
Fredriksson, alongside Brad Gustafson, has been raising money to build tiny homes in Moccasin Flats since the late fall.
As of now, over 15 homes have been built or donated for the people in the encampment – despite the city issuing stop work and do not occupy orders.
Fredriksson said the need for indoor shelter will remain until the facility is built, and some will choose to remain in their tiny home instead of moving into the facility – but they are already looking at new directions the project could go.
“We have started working with other communities like Prince Rupert and Terrace. Both of those communities need tiny homes… if we need to move the tiny homes, we could move them north,” he explained. “It is a movement, quite literally. Taking those tiny homes from Prince George and putting them in Terrace so Terrace is forced to come up with a solution is the plan. It is becoming a great way to bring action into the community.”
When asked if he felt the Prince George tiny home project had any influence on the facility BC Housing and Prince George City Council have just approved, he said “bluntly, yes.”
“Obviously it is complex and there is a lot involved in there. I don’t like the idea of having to push against bylaw and the city,” he said, referencing the stop work orders that were ignored. “I don’t like that, I don’t think it is a positive thing. However, it is winter, and they are announcing 44 units the day the Premier is here.”
“I am not saying the tiny home project forced this to be done, but the community action that was brought together… the grassroots movement, we are actually being listened to. We have the answers to the questions,” he continued. “I think we have been working in a system that is top-down. We need to start working together from the bottom-up as well.”
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