Working with the homeless to clear encampments would be cheaper than paying lawyers and make “better friends,” Prince George homeless advocate Amelia Merrick says in a letter to Prince George city council.
The Sept. 7 letter, which is in the agenda for city council’s public meeting on Monday, Sept. 25, blasts the city for clearing the Millenium Park encampment at First Avenue and George Street.
“Behind closed doors you made a dangerous decision, with no plan, coordination or support,” she wrote “Neither housing agencies, outreach workers or residents were consulted. Please learn from your mistakes! Even the Minister of Housing is calling you out for your bad decision.”
She said the city has not learned its lesson after losing two court cases and issuing a public apology after the attempted clearing of the Moccasin Flats encampment in November 2021.
“In 2021, the victims of your failed decampment gave you clear instructions for how to improve the decampment process,” she wrote. “You have rejected every one of their recommendations. We do not want to waste more tax dollars on legal fees or payouts. (How much have you spent on lawyers so far?)”
The letter briefly lists the recommendations, which includes procedures on communications, support, the handling of personal belongings, photographs and signed agreements.
“Claimants felt that if transition to housing and the 'clean up' is done right we (the City and citizens) will be 'better friends' afterwards,” she wrote. “Claimants and other dehoused citizens are willing to provide consultation so we can get this right.”
