The Lower Patricia Boulevard encampment in downtown Prince George known as Moccasin Flats has become virtually abandoned as city staff continue their efforts to clean up the site.
On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the city brought in an excavator and a bobcat to load discarded shelter remnants and some of the belongings left by former residents in the snow onto a truck for disposal.
In May 2024 there were an estimated 44 people sheltering at the site in the area at least part of the week. That number dropped as new temporary housing units built by the province became available. There are now only a few occupied sites at the encampment.
“Today, we believe less than 10 individuals are sheltering on the property,” said Eric Depenau, the city’s director of administrative services. “We are pleased to share that we have seen a roughly 80 per cent decrease in individuals residing at the encampment since May of 2024.
“Further, in June, the city worked to clarify the boundaries of the encampment. At that time it was determined that there were 10 occupied camp sites near, but outside of the boundaries of the LPBE. Today, all but one site have been resolved.”
Moccasin Flats occupies a stretch of land at the base of the hill at Lower Patricia Boulevard, starting at the eastern edge of Fifth Avenue and continuing eastward.
The city’s homeless population has been occupying that area for nearly three years and that has been a thorn in the city’s side as a sometimes violent and dangerous place. The camp has kept police, ambulance and fire crews busy with dozens of incidents of violence, drug overdoses and suspicious fires that destroyed many of the shelters and the personal belongings of the inhabitants.
The city wants to permanently close the encampment and has tried to do so several times. A court order made in BC Supreme Court on Feb. 23, 2022 legally prevents that from happening until the city can demonstrate camp residents can be accommodated in shelters or other indoor living spaces, which is ongoing. The city also must demonstrate to the court there are adequate daytime facilities for people without permanent homes.
“The City of Prince George has worked collaboratively with the province and service agencies over the last few years to address the Lower Patricia Boulevard encampment,” said Depenau. “Good progress has been made, and we are working to return to court to discuss the future of this site and its resolution as an entrenched encampment.
“With this significant reduction in individuals on site, most of the lands are unoccupied but are heavily littered. Ongoing refuse removal from the laneway, around fire hydrants, and from and around the two large bins on site has been ongoing for some time to help manage waste from the site. When there is a structure fire or an area becomes abandoned the city works to remediate these sites when appropriate.”
Depenau said the Moccasin Flats cleanup began last April, when city crews supported a community volunteer project providing equipment to remove items identified by individuals living at the site. They were directed to leave what they did not want in the laneway that bisects the camp and that was later picked up by city staff to reduce fire risks and declutter the area.
“Over 2024 more than a dozen structure fires occurred within the encampment,” said Depenau. “Thankfully, none of these fires spread far from their origin. This is a credit to the Prince George Fire Service, but also, in part, thanks to these ongoing clean-up efforts.”
The 42-unit Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) facility opened in late December, adjacent to Moccasin Flats at 377 Third Ave., after seven months of construction.
