The 900-block of Pandora Avenue was almost empty of tents Monday afternoon after a visit from Victoria bylaw officers.
By 3 p.m., just one tent was standing on the block, which is usually full of tents during the day and night. The street remained busy with dozens of people and carts of belongings.
Jordan Cooper, Our Place’s director of services, said during the last week he has seen more enforcement of the city’s daytime sheltering ban, which requires people to take down tents from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cooper said the recent enforcement efforts do not resemble a sweep of the block in mid-May, which came as a surprise to Our Place staff and people sheltering on the block.
“This has just been a gradual approach. And I think there’s been communication about what that approach is going to be,” he said.
Communication between the city and Our Place staff has improved since the sweep, with more willingness to work together, Cooper said.
“The biggest change is I think there’s more happening to try and find solutions to get people housed.
“Of course, it’s never fast enough, but things are in motion, which is nice to see. So, we’re staying positive,” Cooper said.
City bylaw and public works employees impounded a few items on the block Monday, but most people took their tents down when asked to do so by bylaw officers, city spokesperson Colleen Mycroft said in a statement. Bylaw officers have not increased their presence on the block, she said.
Police ramped up patrols on the 900-block of Pandora and the 500-block of Ellice Street in response to growing tensions around street disorder, including an incident in which a paramedic was kicked in the face, VicPD spokesman Griffen Hohl said in a statement.
VicPD is working with the fire department, B.C. Emergency Health Services and service providers to address safety concerns on the block. In the meantime, there will be a marked increase in police presence in the area “as we rebuild relationships with our street community,” he said.
Cleaning up is not the focus of the force’s increased presence, but officers may discard empty tents they find, Hohl said. Officers are focused on offences involving violence and drugs, he said.
Monday’s cleanup on Pandora comes less than two weeks after Victoria city council passed a motion asking city staff to identify a timeline to end daytime sheltering on streets, boulevards and parks.
