A system that periodically drips water from the eaves of a 7-Eleven at the corner of Quadra and Yates to drive away problem loiterers is raising concern that it could be harmful for people who live outdoors.
Grant McKenzie, spokesman for Our Place, which operates a drop-in for people in need, said people often go under the eaves to get out of the rain.
“When people get wet, it’s extremely difficult when you’re living outdoors to get dry. Obviously we would much rather people come into Our Place and not hang out in front of 7-Eleven, but there’s always that attraction to things like corner stores.”
McKenzie, however, said he can see both sides — the 7-Eleven is just a business trying to operate, “so I can’t be overly critical.”
7-Eleven could not be reached for comment, but Stacey Kraus, who owns DTI Computers next door on Yates Street, said he’s noticed that 7-Eleven staff will turn on the system “if they see someone that shouldn’t be there, not just loitering.”
He said there is no problem if someone is just sitting there, “but if you’re going to be dealing drugs and stuff then get out.”
When the system is on, however, “honestly they just move to my side,” where this is no dripline, said Kraus, who recently had a window in his store broken.
Emily Rogers, director of operations for Together Against Poverty Society, said the issue is a symptom of a much larger problem: a lack of housing and inadequate rent control.
“We’re going to see this get worse before it gets better,” Rogers said. “The shelter system is not keeping up with the number of people who need access to somewhere to sleep.”
She said having a shelter in every municipality would take the pressure off downtown.
“I certainly empathize with the challenges of businesses downtown and think that the region has a larger role to play in that.”
Rogers also echoed McKenzie’s concern about people getting wet from the drip system.
“If they have nowhere to dry off, it strikes me as pretty discriminatory and inhumane.”
Downtown Victoria Business Association executive director Jeff Bray said it isn’t a matter of “us versus them” or “homeless versus housed,” but rather the activity going on outside of businesses.
Staff don’t want to have people directly outside drinking, smoking or using drugs, Bray said.
“If it was an occasional thing or very small-scale, that’s one thing,” he said. “But the fact is it’s a growing problem. It does force businesses to be creative in how they can protect their storefronts and remove the behaviours that are negative.
“What about customers that don’t feel safe accessing a business with five or six people using drugs right outside?”
Bray said it’s good the drip system has generated discussion.
“Let’s have that conversation,” he said. “At what point do we say there has to be a balance between the needs of those that are clearly struggling and regular citizens who are impacted by that behaviour?”
Bray said it is “unfortunate” that businesses have to look at things like a drip system.
“If we continue to have all the social services concentrated in a five-block radius, we’re going to continue to see these problems.”
