NEWS RELEASE about SolidarityPovertyHousing posted on February 22, 2010 by vanrad

Olympic Tent Village Enters Week 2, NEEDS YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT!

flux photo

Since Feb 15, 2010 the Olympic Tent Village has been set up at 58 West
Hastings, an empty lot owned by notorious condo developer Concord Pacific,
currently being leased by VANOC as a parking lot for the Olympics. The
first few days at the Olympic Tent Village have gone strongly and
smoothly, thanks to the community effort to support and defend it.
Hundreds have gathered during the evening and through the night,
especially DTES residents, homeless people, and youth.

* Read Issue 1 of Tent Village Voice:
http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/tent-village-voice-issue-1/

* Watch videos of DTES residents and homeless people residing at Tent
Village: http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/media/

Over the next week, we are calling on all supporters to continue to defend
the Olympic Tent Village and to support the residents. We need:
- Volunteers to help cook at the Tent Village anytime drop-in starting at
8 am till 8 pm.
- Supporters to be present during the day 8 am to 4 pm and overnight 6 pm
to 6 am.
- Independent media, legal observers and others with cameras in case of
emergencies (please note, due to privacy concerns, there is no recording
in the Tent Village otherwise)
- On site medic support especially overnight from 6 pm to 6 am.
- Donations of non perishable food items, tarps, tents, blankets, sleeping
bags.

The 2010 Winter Olympics has escalated the homelessness crisis in
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside - Canada's poorest postal code - and the
Greater Vancouver area. Since the Olympic bid, homelessness has nearly
tripled in the GVRD, while real estate and condominium development in the
Downtown Eastside is outpacing social housing by a rate of 3:1. Meanwhile,
a heightened police presence has further criminalized those living in
extreme material poverty in the poorest postal code in Canada.

With the eyes of the world on Vancouver, residents of the Downtown
Eastside and our supporters of the Olympic Tent Village want:
1. Real action to end homelessness now
2. End condo development and displacement in the Downtown Eastside
3. End discriminatory ticketing, police harassment, and all forms of
criminalization of poverty.

The Olympic Tent Village has been an inspiring action to take over public
space and empty lots, a powerful testament to the building of community,
and a reclamation of dignity and freedom amidst daily systemic poverty and
injustice.

For updates, articles, video, photos, and further information on how to
support: http://olympictentvillage.wordpress.com