Langley tent city resident predicts 'a bit of a standoff' on eviction day

People living ata homeless camp near theFraser Highway and 208 Street in Langley have been given until Tuesday morning to pack up their things and leave.

Bylaw officers were at the camp late last week handing out eviction notices.

They were alsooffering people places to stay at anearby shelter.

Janis Sanders, who has been living in a tent on the Nicomeklflood plain since late August, says finding a home has been especially difficult for her, because she has a small dog.

"Her owner died a year ago, and and she would come to visit every now and again," she said.

"Every 20 minutes she would come back and start scratching at the door, so I just kept her."

Sanders says she has been in touch with the shelter about keeping her chihuahua pug cross.

"They are trying to work out a pet program for me, and they say they could take a week or so, but we'll figure it out," Sanders said.

"Unsustainable" problem

In a report that went to Langley city council earlier this month, chief administrative officer Francis Cheung said he has been bombarded with complaints about the homeless camp.

"The RCMP has handled approximately 550 homeless-related calls to date this year, which representapproximately onein every 13 calls," he said.

"For comparison purposes, the highest reported crime type to the RCMP is theft from auto, and this year to date, they have received 351 calls. Homelessness issues have generated 200 more calls over and above that."

Cheung says the city has spent nearly $250,000 to address homelessness and vandalism-related issues so far this year.

He says the costs are significant and unsustainable.

Moving on

Sanders says she expects bylaw officers and police will get a frigid reception from campers when they show up Tuesday morning.

"There will probably be a bit of a standoff and a little bit of arguing and fighting, but they [city officials] have also gone to the shelter to make sure everyone has a place to go," she said.

Sanders, who lives on disability assistance, says she'll likely stay at the shelter, until she can find a place that will accept a pet.

"It's pretty impossible to find a place, because they want like $450 for a pet deposit, but we'll work around it and figure it out," she said.