For some people, it evoked the hobo camps of the Depression years. For some nearby homeowners, it was unnerving. For those concerned about the city’s tourism revenues, it was not a good thing.

Victoria’s ‘tent city’, on the land just across from the provincial courthouse, was closed down in 2016, after almost a year, and 300 people were relocated. One of the places they went to was My Place, an old fire hall turned into a temporary home for 40 of the tent city residents. 

When they were looking for volunteers, I signed up. I helped in the kitchen twice a week, and picked up garbage in the surrounding blocks. And I learned a lot about homelessness.