Thread by @jhwfung

This motion raised by @JeanSwanson_ chock full of action to address homelessness in Vancouver was deemed out of order by @kennedystewart while @councillorwiebe and @LisaDominato’s decampment motion is on the docket for public hearing. #vanpoli council.vancouver.ca/20191001/docum…

Here’s @councillorwiebe and @LisaDominato’s motion, up for public hearing today. Nothing but political doublespeak to kick out the tent city residents and a bunch of feel-good initiatives that do little to help address the homelessness crisis. #vanpoli council.vancouver.ca/20191002/docum…

Wiebe’s motion sounds good, if you didn’t know any better. But let’s break it down. “Develop a collaborative decampment plan” - push tent city folks out against their will, but make it sound like we listened, despite not having better housing options for them in the motion

“create a dedicated, coordinated cross-jurisdictional Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST)” = political doublespeak with a fancy acronym for an inaction team that’ll take months to form while people freeze on the streets

“explore opportunities to collaborate, and potentially expand upon, the initial success of the peer-based Park Stewardship pilot program” = “explore” provides zero action substantive action. Also this pilot program is useful but not a long term homelessness solution.

“City and Park Board explore options for identified needed services, such as a community kitchen, additional accessible laundry and drying facilities, and 24-hour sanitation facilities” NO MENTION OF @vancouverops or any support for drug users. #vanpoli

Wiebe’s proposal asks for provincial and federal funding for employment programs. What use are these when people aren’t housed? Jean’s proposal asks for #bcpoli and #cdnpoli help for actual housing. People struggle to hold down jobs if they’re not appropriately housed! #vanpoli

“direct staff, in collaboration with community service agencies, to undertake a review of Downtown Eastside services, with the goal of creating a coordinated service delivery framework” = more analysis and review when action is needed. Also, who are these service agencies?

All up, the proposal sounds reasonable to the uninitiated but it truly is nothing more than a feel-good proposal that aims to tear down the tent city and doesn’t do nearly enough to action the homelessness crisis. @kennedystewart showed once again his complete lack of a spine.

Here’s Wiebe’s and Dominato’s proposal again in case you missed my earlier tweet council.vancouver.ca/20191002/docum…