(cross-posted on rabble.ca)

Day 6 was a very busy day! I left the house early and headed downtown to the courthouse to hear the decision of the BC Court of Appeal on InSite and the appeal by the Conservative Government to shut it down. The courtroom was packed – and the decision we all hoped for came in! (http://tinyurl.com/yd6sr47)

Outside in the pouring rain (yes, I know we do tend to go on and on in Vancouver about the rain), there was a big media scrum and I was happy to say a few words about this important victory that will allow the supervised injection site on E. Hastings to stay open. Six years this struggle has been going on!

There was a great feeling of solidarity on the street as activists, the Portland Hotel Society, VANDU, Dr. Montaner, Dean Wilson – the original plaintiff, – and many others like Phillip Owen (former Mayor) and Jenny Kwan MLA, milled about and smiled. I then dashed back to my office and dashed through as much email as I could, and then, as I have for the past five days, headed down to Main and Hastings outside the Carnegie to set up my flip chart, pen etc., to record more comments and experiences from people about homelessness and the urgent need for housing.

And then, amazingly, the sun came out! And the grey blanket rolled away beyond the mountains, and we had sun, sun, sun. Oh, that felt good and everyone rejoiced. A Native elder came up and said “did you turn on the big light switch in the sky,” and we laughed. Megan even bought a new umbrella with her just in case-but she only needed to open it to show us that its design was a blue sky with clouds.
Another fellow from yesterday came back with a poem he had composed – he wrote it on a telephone message sheet and then re-wrote it on the flip chart. I’ve told many folks that all the comments will be written up and I will send them to Ministers and others, for all to see. I will also read as many as I can in Parliament. It is really important to hear people – to listen to their words and experiences – and know they count. So today was a good day – and many people celebrated the victory for InSite as a step for dignity and respect for the human rights of drug users.

Later I went to the re-lighting of the big “W” in the new Woodwards’ development at Hastings and Abbott. It was a very impressive event – music, lots of people, and a sense of history. There are social housing units in the new development, which is great, but also lots of condos. There is anxiety in the community about the impact of Woodwards, and how it will add to the gentrification of the Downtown Eastside, and the displacement of low-income people. Again this is another reason we need new social housing, and for the federal government to pitch in to make sure people are not displaced. I had earlier met some of the folks who had managed to be selected for a new social housing unit in the new Woodwards – they were so happy – and love their new home.

Back home now feeling tired but good – that today was an excellent day.

Libby

(cross-posted on rabble.ca)

I think I’m losing track of the days – it seems like its still day 4. All I know is its colder and wetter today and many people at Main and Hastings were edgier. Turns out that cheque day is next week – so many folks are at that point of no return – money gone. People look hungry and intense. I got the first negative comment – racist so I won’t repeat it. We ended up sharing the tent cover with multiple dealers, (they’ve kept a small distance ‘til now on the shared sidewalk). It’s interesting watching the small deals go down – fast and efficient. Heard many hard stories – like Peter from the Dene nation – he described to us how Fort McMurray and his people are ruined. He signed his message as Dene Warrior.

After we’d packed up the tent (thankyou Kim for helping out today) we went upstairs to 3rd floor of Carnegie and looked at the photo from 30 years ago of me, Bruce, and baby Lief in a stroller, the day before Carnegie “officially” opened as a newly renovated community centre for the Downtown Eastside. It took us (including Jean Swanson who was pivotal in this too) about 4 or 5 years to get the grand old building saved from the wrecking ball, and money allocated to turn it into the place it is today. People still call it the Living Room of the Downtown Eastside. Each floor was busy today as it is 365 days a year. Thankyou Sharon for putting together such a great photo and memorabilia showcase.

Ok – enough of memory lane (though the 30th anniversary of Carnegie is coming up a few days from now). What’s cool is that the centre is a beehive of activity – a library, gym, classrooms, eating area, a small theatre, and home to the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) that is a creative, grass roots group that engages people in awareness about the community and how to improve bad housing, get more, better housing and prevent people from being thrown out by new development pressures. Today people were practicing their upcoming presentations to Vancouver City Council about future development in the area and their concerns about high rises that could be allowed causing further instability for low-income residents. All the more reason that new social housing needs to be built. The old hotels and rooming houses – fast disappearing – are completely inadequate as permanent housing for people.

I have to say – although I’m pretty immersed in the Hunger Strike Relay to End Homelessness, and what’s going on here, keep thinking about what’s happening Haiti and the on-going disaster that is being endured by millions of people there. All our efforts are required to get support and aid to Haiti. I’ve made a donation to Doctors without Borders (http://www.msf.ca/news-media/news/2010/01/haiti-update) – and there are many other reliable organizations you can send your donations to.

Libby