Homeless campers in B.C. provincial park allowed to stay indefinitely
LANGFORD, B.C. — The camping area of a provincial park near Victoria was closed to the public Thursday as a group of homeless people were allowed to stay indefinitely while the British Columbia government tries to find them alternate housing options.
Environment Ministry spokesman David Karn said the government has not imposed a deadline on the group of about 30 people to leave Goldstream Provincial Park even though a provincial eviction notice was set to be imposed Thursday morning.
Earlier reports by park officials of a 24-hour extension on the eviction notice followed by a possible two week time limit no longer apply to the homeless people who have pitched tents in the park, he said.
“The province has no deadline in place for their stay at present while outreach workers work with them on supports, including shelter and housing,” Karn said.