The City of Vancouver has conducted a large-scale cleaning operation at CRAB Park in an effort to improve unsafe living conditions for people using the park for temporary sheltering. The cleaned-up area of the park has been resurfaced with fresh gravel and now has 27 demarcated sheltering sites. Following the cleanup, a new designated area was created at the park for people who had been residing in the closed area. However, the process of getting people to move back into the cleaned-up area has been slow, with only 12 out of 27 registered individuals ready to relocate back in by the end of Friday.
The City of Vancouver has reopened the cleaned-up area of CRAB Park for temporary sheltering, but if some of the registered individuals do not return to the designated area, the City plans to remove demarcated sheltering sites and shrink the area as needed in order to return it to park use for the whole community. Round-the-clock sheltering has been permitted in a northern portion of the park by special order since the city lost a legal battle to remove homeless people living there in 2022. The city deemed the designated area unsafe due to the presence of propane tanks, human waste, rats, and illegal structures, leading to the relocation of residents to a temporary space.
During the cleanup process, city crews removed over 90,000 kilograms of debris and material, as well as 20 propane tanks and six generators. Despite delays caused by the need for some individuals to have additional time to relocate and wet weather conditions, the cleanup was completed smoothly. BC Housing has provided new tents, canopies, and communal areas for individuals in the designated sheltering area. Only those who were registered in the area as of February 26 will be allowed to return, and the site will be made smaller as individuals find housing and leave.
The City of Vancouver has expressed disappointment at the slow rate of people relocating back into the cleaned-up area of CRAB Park. City official Sandra Singh encouraged individuals to move back in and emphasized the need to close the temporary sheltering area in order to return the park to community use. If conditions in the designated area deteriorate to the point of non-compliance with the Parks Control By-law or pose public safety or health concerns, the city may withdraw the order permitting round-the-clock sheltering. Singh stated that the city had received advice from partners and service providers not to encourage people to return to the designated area, which was met with disappointment by city officials.
