A group called Abbotsford Drug War Survivors (ADWS) has established a homeless encampment at Abbotsford city hall in protest, calling on the city to identify land for individuals to camp.
“We request that the City of Abbotsford promptly identifies and designates a specific location within municipal boundaries where unhoused individuals can move to in the wake of the decampment of BC Hydro Lands bordering Gladys [Avenue],” reads the petition linked on ADWS Facebook page.
“We are advocating for the city to designate space where individuals can safely shelter in the interim between homelessness and seeking other permanent housing solutions,” said Brittany Maple, the executive director of the Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society and program coordinator of ADWS.
Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens said he is, “happy,” the protest encampment moved from its original location at Babich Park and believes city hall is a more appropriate place to protest.
– With files from Aaron Levy
