'A lot of them have been sleeping in garbage bins': new homeless camp shows negative side of economic growth

A new homeless camp set up beside Prince Rupert city hall is a reminder of the negative impacts of industrial growth, according to the mayor of the North Coast city.

The camp was set up by Goot Goot Ges (Patricia McEvoy) using donated tents and supplies in an effort to help as colder winter weather and storms set in.

"We get a lot of rain and wind here," she explained.

"A lot of them [the homeless] have been sleeping in garbage bins ... anywhere they can find that's dry, a little bit of shelter, and I think our community can do a lot better than that."

Goot Ges said she was motivated by her time working on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, as well as an awareness of her own situation as a single mother.

"What if it was me and my kids sleeping outside on the streets? Would anybody care?" she asked.

"We need to start caring about each other again."

Tenants renovicted to make way for LNG

As Goot Ges set up the camp Wednesday, she was joined by Mayor Lee Brain who later released a letter he'd written to the province's minister of municipal affairs and housing, Selina Robinson.

In it, he asked the province to work with the city to build a homeless shelter and add new affordable housing to help residents priced out by economic growth in the city.

"During the speculative period surrounding the LNG industry in Prince Rupert from 2012-2017, the City saw increased pressures in our rental housing market," he wrote.

"Many tenants were renovicted, while homeowners sought to sell their homes, as property values increased. Due to the continued growth at the Port [of Prince Rupert] and adjacent industries, the trend has not slowed. Unfortunately, the economic benefit of port growth has not spread to underprivileged families in Prince Rupert, and many are considered precariously housed."

• Terrace locals pushed out of housing market in LNG rush, 

Brain also outlined several actions the city has taken, including offering municipal land for housing developments or a shelter.

He said he will not be moving to take down the camp.

'It makes you feel like you fit in'

In the days since Goot Ges started the camp, several people have moved in as other Rupertites donate more tents, food and supplies.

Among those living in the camp is Cliff Russ, who said he's feeling supported by his community.

"It makes me feel good. It makes you feel like you fit in with everyone," he said, adding that he'd prefer a more permanent shelter.

"Hopefully it's not too long. Hopefully they find us a place." 

Matt Thomson of Urban Matters Vancouver said the situation is a reminder of the unique challenge Goot Ges faced by the homeless in smaller, rural communities, from lower temperatures to fewer supports.

"There's a high level of mobility between communities. A lot of shelters may have a stay limit of 30 days or 60 days ... and often there's a lot of transience between a community like Terrace and a community like Prince Rupert," he said.

Thomson also said that transience could mask the levels of homelessness because residents may not see the same people sleeping on the streets every day.

"The less visible something is, typically the less political response we see to it and the less support we see for resources and services to address the issue," Thomson said.

Goot Ges said she hoped the camp would draw attention to the issues facing Prince Rupert but added that with winter coming it also serves a more urgent need: survival.

"I don't want to see anyone dying out here," she said.