A homeless guy in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside claimed to be directly impacted by the housing crisis.
A weekly drum circle in the downtown neighbourhood is led by Steven Sacky. The Liberian refugee, who has been ejected from his home a second time, finds solace in each beat.
Sacky told Global News, “(My) place burned down two months ago, and I’ve been homeless (ever since).”
On Powell Street near Princess Avenue, Sacky’s SRO unit was damaged by fire in August.
He was relocated together with around 60 other people. He has been residing at Oppenheimer Park ever then, and he said that the government was unable to place him in housing.
“BC Housing has never called me. Even if they claim that you are a priority in this fire, there is no priority there. No one is raising their hands. They put us in a hotel for three days, then kicked us out,” said Sacky. “Since then, no aid has been provided.
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Sacky was offered a room at the Brandiz Hotel SRO on East Hastings Street close to Main Street by a City of Vancouver outreach team, but he declined it on the grounds that the structure and its location are dangerous.
“Bed bugs, cockroaches, and sirens every minute. I don’t want to live there, Sacky stated.
Advocates said the vast majority of the 7,000 public and private SRO units in the city are in disrepair.
They continue by saying that recent SRO fires and rooms being re-rented at greater prices are aggravating the situation.
According to Wendy Pedersen, a homeless advocate with the SRO Collaborative Society, “There is nowhere for folks to go.” There are still relatively few of those really, very poor accommodations, even if we can find someone the worst room in the downtown eastside.
Furthermore, I don’t blame individuals for not wanting to move to an area with rats.
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Wendy Pedersen is relying on the newly elected mayor Ken Sim and premier-designate David Eby to strengthen rights for vulnerable residents and replace SROs with new housing.
We have been lacking effective leadership. The time is now, Pedersen said.
When will Sacky be placed in housing again?
If playing the drums has taught him anything, it is that harmony can only be achieved when everyone is on the same page.
This community needs help.
And we can all work together to improve things, Sacky remarked.
Housing advocates and the homeless are asking the new premier and mayor for assistance.
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