Province back in court to shut down Victoria's tent city

The B.C. government is back in court today seeking an injunction to shut down Victoria's tent city.

The province tried to get an injunction in April to force about 100 people camping on the lawn of Victoria's courthouse to leave, but the court ruled that since the homeless campers had nowhere else to go, the camp should remain standing.

Earlier this month the province applied again for an injunction based on concerns about fire safety and crime.

To bolster its case the province has also made plans to add nearly 200 new supportive housing units in Victoria, but it's not until November that all of the units will open.

Stephen Portman with the Together Against Poverty Society says the camp should remain standing until all of those spaces open.

The hearing is scheduled to run for two days, but regardless of the court's decision, he says the camp has had a positive impact on the city.

"This is one of the most remarkable moments in investment in social housing in over two decades," said Portman.

But area resident Stephen Hammond says neighbours have been adversely affected by the camp and many are hoping the court will shut it down.

"After so much crime and so much nuisance in the neighbourhood and so much police presence, there's way more people who have been personally and negatively affected by tent city."