judgeFinal arguments begin today in the court case about whether Abbotsford’s bylaw against people sleeping overnight in parks goes against a homeless person’s rights to have shelter.

DJ Larkin from Pivot Legal says the last four weeks they’ve been outlining the history of how the City has addressed the homelessness issue.

“We’ve heard evidence of the City displacing people, and especially using specific tactics such as cutting tents, pepper spraying, using manure, as well as the lack of services and support available to people living in the streets.”

Larkin says today she’ll be talking about the net result of the lack of housing options and the treatment of the homeless.

“They put people’s lives at risk, and they fail to take in to consideration that many people living in the streets have significant disabilities and face significant barriers in accessing shelter and housing. And what we’ll be asking the court to do is to decide that there needs to be a different way forward and a way that is more supportive of people’s rights.”

Larkin says they’re not asking for an unregulated right for people to occupy parks but that there needs to be a better system to support people.