CRAB Park sheltering area will close next week, city says [Video]

The City of Vancouver says the remaining seven residents of an encampment at a Downtown Eastside park have a week to pack up their belongings and leave, or they must remove their tents each day as the area returns to regular daytime use.

A statement from the city says people may continue sheltering at CRAB Park overnight, but structures must be taken down by 8 a.m. each day starting Nov. 7.

It says reserved shelter spaces will be available for those who choose to leave.

The city says it confirmed the date of the upcoming closure of the designated area for sheltering in the park and a return to regular daytime use by the general public following a week of consultation with the encampment residents.

The joint statement with the Vancouver Park Board says each of the seven people has housing, health services, income supports and transition plans in place, …