Why cities struggle to respond to B.C.’s ongoing tent encampment problem [Video]

Coquitlam and Abbotsford are just two B.C. cities where dozens of people are trying to survive outside in tents, holding on and hoping for better.

“Why do I live here?” said Ledora Napoleon from the tent encampment at Abbotsford city hall. “Because it’s so hard to find housing in Abbotsford.”

She last lived in conventional housing seven months ago, says she’s been evicted several times and faces discrimination because of being on disability or income assistance.

“I feel like I’ve been blacklisted,” she said, acknowledging living in a tent encampment is her best option at present.

Tent encampments in B.C. appear to be an unsolvable, circular problem that pits concerns over public safety and access to public spaces against the …