povertyandhumanrights.org » homelessness

PHRC Intervenes to Support Homeless People

phrc — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:47:17 +0000

The Poverty and Human Rights Centre is intervening to to support homeless people in the Tent City Case. The appeal will be heard in the British Columbia Court of Appeal on June 10 and 11, 2009. The PHRC was granted leave to intervene on April 3, 2009, by Groberman J.A. of the BCCA. The PHRC position is set out in the factum.

PHRC Adams Factum

Victoria (City) v. Adams: Advancing the Right to Shelter

phrc — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:34:55 +0000

Victoria (City) v. Adams: Advancing the Right to Shelter is an important new B.C. case about social and economic rights. The issue in this case is whether a City bylaw which required homeless people to remove tents and any overhead protection, while sleeping in Cridge Park, violated their right to life, liberty and security of the person. This is a key case in the development of protections for poor and homeless people in Canada.

The new law sheet describes the issues in the case and the role that international human rights law has played. Victoria (City) v. Adams: Advancing the Right to Shelter is the latest in a series of law sheets produced by the Poverty and Human Rights Centre that are focused on the domestic enforcement of social and economic rights. The law sheets are intended to assist lawyers, front line advocates, and non-governmental organizations who rely on the human rights framework in their advocacy before tribunals and courts, to assist members of vulnerable groups.

Victoria (City) v. Adams: Advancing the Right to Shelter (PDF)

Who’s in contempt over the Woodward’s squat? (November 2002)

phrc — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 01:02:06 +0000

the BC Housing Corporation dropped proceedings against

the 54 Woodwards squatters charged in October with contempt of court for occupying a

publicly-owned and vacant building. The Corporation seems to have realized that

continuing the contempt proceedings against the “Woodwards 54” would have increased

the public’s sympathy for the protesters, and further underlined the contempt that the

provincial government is guilty of––its contempt for the rights of people who need

homes.

The BC Housing Corporation dropped proceedings against the 54 Woodwards squatters charged in October with contempt of court for occupying a publicly-owned and vacant building. The Corporation seems to have realized that continuing the contempt proceedings against the “Woodwards 54” would have increased the public’s sympathy for the protesters, and further underlined the contempt that the provincial government is guilty of––its contempt for the rights of people who need homes.

Who’s in Contempt Over the Woodward’s Squat? (Nov 2002)