Eviction notices handed out to Nanaimo’s homeless at downtown tent city
NANAIMO — After setting up more than a week ago, Nanaimo’s homeless are being told to leave their tents behind.
The City of Nanaimo handed out eviction notices to the homeless at Discontent City around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, May 25. An injunction will be filed with the Supreme Court of B.C. against any who remain at the site after Tuesday, May 29. The decision to evict the homeless was made at a Friday afternoon in-camera meeting.
Roughly 50 people had set up camp at 1 Port Dr. on City-owned land across from the Port Place Shopping Centre.
Nanaimo mayor Bill McKay said though the City is sympathetic to those struggling to find housing, they wanted to take action before the camp could become entrenched, much like what happened in Victoria, Vancouver and Maple Ridge.