Surrey Strip tent city residents say transition to modular housing was chaotic

Some tent city residents along the so-called "Surrey Strip" claim city staff threw out belongings as they cleared the area of its homeless encampment Thursday.

The city, however, says only marked belongings designated for removal were discarded.

As of Tuesday, there were around 175 people living in the area along 135A Street. Many of those residents were given a placement at one of the 160 temporary modular homes recently made available by the province, but Surrey city staff acknowledged there aren't enough units to house everyone who currently lives in a tent.

Christina Madland has lived for two years in a tent on the strip. She didn't get a modular housing spot, but she was able to get a space at the shelter.

She said her tent was thrown out today without her permission.

"I lost half my stuff because it was a last-minute thing," Madland said. "Everybody was up in uproar because a lot of people weren't prepared for it."

She said people were only allowed to pack up two bins of stuff — about the size of recycling crates — to their new shelter space.

"That was it. The rest we weren't allowed," she said. "It kind of sucked because we don't have much out here already ... It left a lot of people upset and confused."

City could have been better prepared: advocate

Erin Schulte, who has worked to help people in the community, said the removal process has been "utter chaos" and city staff could have been better prepared.

She was especially concerned about former tent city residents who still have no modular housing or shelter space.

"They want it to be sunshine and roses, we've got modular housing ... But there are people who are falling through the cracks here in deadly ways," Schulte said.

Jas Rehal, Surrey's manager of public safety, said the city is trying to make a fit with everyone and is working toward finding housing for all tent city residents.

He disputed claims that people's stuff were thrown out without care.

"After the point they had gone to a new home, anything left was thrown out. They had a chance first to pack it all up. They were given boxes and movers were helping them," Rehal said.

"We have been working with these folks all week. There was ample time. Everything was marked that was being removed. Nothing was removed until it was marked and cleared."

With files from Rafferty Baker