street sweeps
SFU study finds that street sweeps reinforce systemic harm
November 9, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer A study conducted between 2021 and 2023 by SFU found that street sweeps by the City of Vancouver lead to higher rates of violence, disrupted access to services, and overdose risk. Street sweeps involve police officers and city workers clearing public areas, displacing unhoused individuals, and often seizing belongings in the process. The study noted these practices first appeared in Vancouver in 2008 and are typically carried out under the pretext of tackling crime and dismantling illegal settlements, such as tent cities. In early 2024, residents of the CRAB Park tent city were forcibly removed…
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Volunteers prevented from entering CRAB Park amidst street sweeps
July 8, 2024By: Hannah Fraser, News Writer Content warning: description of police violence. According to local advocates, “The Vancouver Park Board is creating a daily exclusive ‘work-zone’ around the encampment at CRAB Park, preventing volunteers and media from entering.” The work zone…
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Unhoused residents of Vancouver parks subjected to discrimination
January 15, 2024By: Olivia Sherman, News Writer Since 2018, Fiona York has dedicated her time to advocating for some of Vancouver’s most vulnerable populations. Unhoused residents of Vancouver parks, such as CRAB Park and Oppenheimer Park, are subjected to street sweeps, exposure…
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