Numbers haven’t grown drastically at the Anita Place tent camp on St. Anne Avenue, despite the closing of the temporary homeless shelter on Wednesday.
Tent camp organizer Tracy Scott said four or five people arrived from the homeless shelter operated by RainCity Housing at 22239 Lougheed Hwy. That shelter is now closed with the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries offering space to the 30 so people who were remaining at the shelter, which had operated for two years.
Meanwhile, Scott and homeless advocate Ivan Drury, are awaiting the results of an application for an injunction to dismantle the camp by the City of Maple Ridge on Monday.
Scott said the camp, which has a gate screening entrants and rules governing residents, offers stability for those staying. Three people have found jobs since moving into the camp.
All of the people staying at the camp are from Maple Ridge, she added, saying they moved in from camping in various spots throughout the city. Currently, there are 23 tents in the camp, most of which have two people, she said.
Open drug use isn’t allowed in the camp, although people can do so within their tents.
The camp recently had its port a potties removed. As a result, residents have dug their own latrine and outhouse on one part of the property.