Vancouver declares civil emergency: ‘Homelessness … continues to threaten the lives of residents of the city of Vancouver’

Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes has declared a civil emergency in response to growing homelessness in the city; rising criminal activity and drug use in camps; and a general disinterest among the unhoused population in getting help.

The city has not declared a civil emergency since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The emergency orders allow the city manager to access additional funds and resources to manage the emergency and designate up to 48 acres of public property and rights-of-way closed to camping.

If ratified by the Vancouver City Council on Monday night, the declaration can only be terminated by another declaration in the future. If a termination is proposed, it must be backed by data, such as shelter availability and homelessness deaths.

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