City of Maple Ridge and homeless camp residents reach agreement to keep camp open

The City of Maple Ridge has reached an agreement with residents of the Anita Place homeless camp to keep the tent city in place, under certain fire safety conditions.

The two parties had been in court arguing over an injunction order the city sought to have the camp clearedbut decided to pursue a compromise instead.

• Maple Ridge's only low barrier homeless shelter closes
• Maple Ridge resumes injunction proceedings to clear homeless camp

On Monday, a B.C. Supreme Court judge signed a consent order between the two to address life safety issues at the site.

"This will provide the province time to develop a plan to offer housing solutions for the occupants,"the city said in a statement.

Under the order, campers will be restricted from having open flames or camp fires, more than one communal kitchen, certain combustible materialsand must dispose of their garbage daily.

In addition, B.C. Housing says it will provide the campers with fire-resistant tents and tarps, cold weather sleeping bags,clothingand in-tent heaters.

The provincial housing authority says it will alsoinstalla potable water supply, a warming centreand a modular washroom unit with showers, as soon as gets the approvalfrom the city or its fire department.

"It's just a more pragmatic approach to fire safety where the parties are working together to actually provide what's needed to bring things up to the regulations that are being asked of people," said Pivot Legal Society lawyer Anna Cooper.

"It's quite a victory.We enjoy it.We fought for it and we won. Mind you, it's small.It's a step in the right direction, but it's nowhere near what we need and what we want," said camp resident DavidCudmore.

Campers have been occupying theonce vacant lotnear St. Anne Avenue and 223 Street since May, following the closure of the nearby Rain City shelter.

Thisis the second time the city has adjourned the injunction process, having put the request on hold in June to give B.C. Housing and health-care resources time to secure a voluntary decampment.

Butwithout any progress, city council voted unanimously in October to proceed with an injunction.

Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read citedsafety issues for residents and first respondersand the deterioration of the neighbourhood.

B.C Housing says beyond theimmediate needs met by this agreement, securing a site for modular housing featuring 40 to50 units is a priority.

It says as soon as a site for the homes is selected, it will take two months to complete the project.