First responders no longer require police escorts on Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street, as efforts shift from cleanup and a crackdown on drugs and weapons to removing all tents from the problem-plagued areas.
Victoria police provided an update on Wednesday on the three-stage safety plan for the two areas, saying after nine weeks, they’re ready to move to the last stage — working with service providers on the “complete removal” of the encampments.
The goal is to provide temporary or permanent housing to those living along Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street, said Deputy Chief Jamie McRae.
McRae made it clear that police will not be leading that effort, but are involved in planning and will assist with the removal of the encampments.
“Our primary focus as police is to address public-safety concerns,” said McRae, adding long-term change requires collaboration from agencies including B.C. Housing and Island Health, the city and province, as well as service providers such as Our Place Society.
“We’re the furthest along that I’ve seen in a long time towards providing some longer-term solutions,” said McRae.
“And with those partners at the table, I’m confident that we will get there. Will we get there in the next three or four weeks? That remains to be seen.”
The safety plan was created in response to a July 11 incident where a patient attacked a paramedic, and first responders were swarmed in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue.
The incident was a flashpoint for growing public concern about violent attacks, weapons and the entrenchment of encampments in the city.
McRae said for police, the primary goal with the safety plan is to address concerns about street disorder and crack down on criminals who are exploiting the vulnerable.
Until just weeks ago, police were escorting first responders — firefighters and ambulance paramedics — to and from the 800- and 900-blocks of Pandora Avenue and 500-block of Ellice Street.
Police announced Wednesday that “due to the improved conditions,” the two agencies have decided they no longer need the extra support “unless there is a specific threat to safety.”
From July 19 to Sept. 6, police patrols in the Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street block — where the majority living in tents have mental-health challenges and addictions — resulted in 50 arrests, 10 of which involved outstanding warrants.
There were also dozens of weapons seizures, including 17 knives, four cans of bear spray, two BB guns, an airsoft rifle and a rifle scope.
Drug seizures included 330 grams of fentanyl, 191 grams of crack cocaine, 73 grams of powder cocaine, 87 grams of crystal meth, and seven grams of marijuana, as well as $13,500 in cash.
As part of the second stage of the safety plan, police have been working with the city’s bylaw and public works department to remove “problematic structures” including abandoned tents that “only contain garbage or excrement” and structures that “block safe passage or cause a safety concern.”
“We’re now more than a month into the plan,” said McRae. “I can say with certainty, we’ve improved safety in the Pandora and Ellice street areas.”
Many of those living in the two areas — and others in the street community — have been supportive of the work, he said.
Grant McKenzie of Our Place said the entire plan has been about safety for the people stuck on the streets, the neighbourhood, and those working with the people on Pandora Avenue.
“We don’t believe that anybody should be in a tent on a sidewalk or in a park,” said McKenzie. “So I think this is about bringing hope and safety to the streets of Victoria for everyone.”
McKenzie said it’s important to help stabilize those coming off the street, providing detox and long-term residential treatment or involuntary care for those in need of it, and longer-term housing where people can focus on healing and rebuilding their lives.
“If there’s not enough housing, then you just repeat the cycle, and that’s kind of what’s been happening,” he said.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said 20 of 72 additional shelter spaces funded by the province just opened at Our Place, with the rest set to open in coming weeks. “Seventy-two is a significant amount of shelter spaces in a quick way, and it shows you what can happen when you bring all the partners together,” said Kahlon.
Kahlon said those in the encampments range from people who don’t have housing to the criminal element preying on those on the street, and those who have housing or shelter spaces but are seeking a sense of community.
“And so the trick for our people on the ground over the last few weeks has been trying to build relationships and rapport with individuals, to identify which of the buckets that people fall in,” said Kahlon, adding the province has told the city money is available to open more housing in the community.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto applauded the province for coming through with additional shelter spaces in recent weeks.
Alto said she’d like to see those living on Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street housed and the streets cleared by December, but can’t make predictions, noting the city is focused on carrying out the transition humanely, relocating people to the best possible places for their circumstances and long-term success.
“We don’t have a specific timeline at this point, because it’s important for us to be able to personalize that work and make sure we get people not just into places, but into the places that work for their particular circumstances, so it’s ongoing,” said Alto.
“It might seem slower than we would all like and that’s certainly true, but progress for something like this — when you’re trying to make sure that people have the right housing at the right moment — takes time.”
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