Tammy Littlejohn and Robbie Wallace, two women who have lived in Vancouver’s CRAB Park encampment, are now taking their fight to the B.C. Supreme Court. They argue that new rules imposed by the Vancouver Park Board, which limit sheltering in the park, violate their rights to safe outdoor shelter when housing is unavailable. Their legal challenge highlights the growing tension between homeless residents, city authorities, and local citizens over how to manage the intersection of homelessness and public space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).
But the conflict at CRAB Park goes beyond the rights of homeless individuals. Many Vancouver residents, frustrated by the encampment’s continued presence, argue that public parks are being overtaken by lawlessness, leaving citizens feeling unsafe and angry at the deterioration of these vital community spaces. This legal battle brings into focus two starkly different perspectives on how to handle Vancouver’s homelessness crisis.
Homeless Residents Fight Park Restrictions
Littlejohn, a Squamish First Nation member, and Wallace, a Métis woman, had lived at CRAB Park before being displaced by the Vancouver Park Board’s updated regulations. The new rules, introduced in 2024, confined camping to a designated area and required residents to stay at least three nights a week to maintain their spot. When Littlejohn left the park temporarily to give birth and Wallace was hospitalized due to seizures, both women lost their shelter spots, leaving them with nowhere to return.
In their petition to the B.C. Supreme Court, the women argue that the Park Board’s actions were not only unfair but violated their Charter-protected rights to shelter when no alternative housing is available. They claim the Park Board’s rules were applied without adequate consultation, offering no opportunity for them to comment on the changes or the selection process for shelter spots in the park. For Littlejohn and Wallace, CRAB Park was the only semblance of stability they had, and the sudden eviction left them even more vulnerable.
But their story is just one piece of a much larger debate about the use of public spaces by the homeless and the growing frustration among residents and local government over encampments that have persisted in Vancouver.
Public Parks or Public Encampments?
While CRAB Park has provided a temporary refuge for Vancouver’s homeless, its continued use as an encampment has sparked backlash from other residents. For years, Vancouverites have voiced concerns over the state of public parks in the city, particularly as spaces like CRAB Park become dominated by tents, debris, and open drug use. Many feel that these areas have become unsafe and unsanitary, compromising the quality of life for families and residents who rely on parks for recreation and relaxation.
In April 2024, the Vancouver Park Board began clearing the encampment, citing unsanitary conditions and health hazards. According to the city, the clean-up effort removed over 90,000 kilograms of debris, including propane tanks, needles, and hazardous waste. Park Rangers, patrolling the area, reported that conditions had become untenable for both the campers and the general public.
For critics of the encampments, these actions were long overdue. They argue that allowing tents to dominate public parks sends a dangerous message that lawlessness is acceptable and perpetuates the idea that public spaces can be monopolized by the homeless population. Many Vancouver residents express growing frustration with how encampments are managed, feeling that the city has failed to balance compassion with maintaining public order.
Local opposition to these encampments is not driven solely by a lack of empathy for the homeless. Many argue that by turning parks into semi-permanent homeless shelters, the city is creating conditions that are not safe or suitable for anyone—neither for the homeless nor for the families, children, and residents who have traditionally used these spaces. Vancouverites, especially those living near CRAB Park, are raising their voices, saying enough is enough, calling for stronger action from city officials.
Critics of the City’s approach argue that the focus on cleanups and evictions ignores the root causes of homelessness. While efforts to clean up the park may address surface-level issues, they fail to address the deeper systemic failures that leave people without access to safe, affordable housing. The City’s temporary solutions—providing new tents and enforcing stricter rules—are seen by many as insufficient and even cruel in light of the ongoing housing shortage.
Systemic Issues or Policy Failures?
The ongoing conflict at CRAB Park has exposed deep divisions in how Vancouver handles homelessness and public safety. Supporters of the homeless encampments argue that these temporary shelters are necessary because of the city’s lack of affordable housing and the inadequacies of its mental health and addiction services. For individuals like Littlejohn and Wallace, the City’s temporary shelter options have proven unworkable. Both women cited unsafe conditions, such as lice outbreaks and drug use, in Vancouver’s homeless housing, pushing them to return to outdoor living despite the risks.
On the other hand, many believe that Vancouver’s lenient approach to encampments, especially in public spaces, has led to a breakdown of law and order. Critics argue that city leaders have allowed the situation to deteriorate, with encampments like CRAB Park being seen as a symptom of deeper policy failures. They point to the increased criminality, disorder, and public drug use as signs that the situation has spun out of control.
For these critics, the solution lies not in tolerating semi-permanent encampments but in holding city officials accountable for their failure to build effective long-term housing solutions. They contend that the city has been too focused on managing homelessness through temporary fixes like park encampments, rather than tackling the root issues, such as mental health services and addiction treatment.
The Human Rights Perspective
At the same time, homeless residents have not stayed silent. Alongside the legal petition from Littlejohn and Wallace, CRAB Park residents have also taken their complaints to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. The complaint alleges that the City of Vancouver and its Park Board have discriminated against Indigenous residents and those with disabilities by failing to provide essential services, such as proper sanitation and shelter.
The Tribunal has agreed to fast-track the case, giving both sides a chance to resolve the issue through mediation. For those living in CRAB Park, the lack of access to basic services like washrooms and electricity has made an already difficult situation worse. Advocates for the homeless argue that the City’s neglect of these essential needs has compounded the problem, making it harder for residents to live with dignity while they wait for more permanent housing solutions.
A Divided City
The situation at CRAB Park is a stark reminder of the broader homelessness crisis gripping Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. With roughly 600 people living on the streets, and many more in unstable housing situations, Vancouver faces immense challenges. But while CRAB Park’s encampment may offer some level of refuge for homeless residents, it has also become a flashpoint for frustrated citizens and local officials struggling to maintain public order.
Moving forward, Vancouver must grapple with the question of how to balance the needs of its homeless population with the demands of its residents who want clean, safe public spaces. This balance is not easy to strike, but many argue that the City’s current approach—focusing on temporary shelters, cleanups, and eviction cycles—is not the answer.
Vancouver’s leaders will need to invest more in long-term housing solutions, addiction treatment, and mental health services. Forcing homeless individuals out of public parks may address surface-level concerns, but without addressing the root causes, the cycle of displacement will continue.
The legal challenge brought by Littlejohn and Wallace, and the public outcry over CRAB Park, are just two sides of a larger conversation about how Vancouver should manage homelessness. As tensions continue to rise between those demanding shelter and those calling for order, it is clear that Vancouver’s current policies are under strain.
If you believe Vancouver’s approach to homelessness can be improved, get involved. Advocate for long-term housing solutions, support mental health and addiction services, and ensure that the voices of those like Littlejohn and Wallace are heard. Change starts with all of us.
Denise is a long-time advocate for affordable and dignified housing in the Downtown Eastside. Having lived in SROs and volunteered in homeless shelters, she brings a personal understanding of the housing crisis and its impact on the community. Her work reflects years of lived experience, frontline work, and commitment to creating better living conditions for DTES residents.
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