The City of Prince George has received court approval to dismantle a homeless encampment that has existed for several years. A judge ruled that the city has taken proper steps to provide housing and shelter for people without homes, clearing the way for enforcement of bylaws and closure of the site.
The encampment on Lower Patricia Boulevard was first established in 2021. It quickly grew and by that summer had around 70 tents and makeshift shelters. For years, the city faced challenges in its attempts to close the camp. Courts blocked earlier efforts, saying unhoused people had to be allowed to remain due to a lack of suitable housing and daytime facilities in the community.
This latest ruling marks a major change. It followed the opening of a new supportive housing facility located next to the encampment in January. The judge found that both the city and the province had made significant investments to create new shelter options for residents who had been living in the camp.
Justice Bruce Elwood, who issued the decision, highlighted the struggles faced by unhoused people in Prince George. He referred to recent data showing more than 200 people in the city were experiencing absolute homelessness. Many face challenges linked to poverty, addiction, racism, and mental health. He wrote that housing for this group is often unstable and depends on support that the city alone cannot provide. Without assistance from higher levels of government, he said, the city does not have the resources or authority to create enough homes.
The ruling also recognized that many people are excluded from subsidized housing due to strict rules or limited spaces. Even those who gain access can lose housing if they cannot meet conditions, leaving them with no safe place to go. Despite these barriers, the court found that progress made since 2021 and 2022 allowed the city to move forward with dismantling the camp. Elwood ruled that residents could still apply for a constitutional exemption in special circumstances if they cannot access the nearby supportive housing.
The encampment’s legal history has been lengthy. In 2021, the city went to court naming residents as defendants, citing concerns such as safety issues and even an alleged bicycle shop operation inside the camp. The court at that time ruled residents could stay because no suitable alternatives existed. A year later, another attempt to shut down the camp was denied. The court found the city had acted improperly and caused harm by dismantling parts of the site. After that setback, authorities worked with the province and the B.C. Housing Management Commission to build new housing and improve facilities.
Those efforts included the opening of the supportive housing complex near the site earlier this year, which is designed to provide low-barrier shelter and services. The court recognized that both the city and province had spent significant public resources to meet the conditions of earlier rulings.
Following the latest decision, the city announced that about 20 people remain at the site. It will work with BC Housing to secure places for them before dismantling begins. Once housing is available, residents will have seven days to leave the encampment. City manager Walter Babicz described the case as complex and difficult for everyone involved. He said the decision will allow the city to address health and safety issues at the site, while reducing impacts on nearby residents and businesses.
The city emphasized that its approach is focused on providing alternatives rather than forcing people back onto the streets. Lawyers for the encampment residents did not immediately respond to the decision. The dismantling of the Lower Patricia Boulevard encampment is expected to begin once housing connections are completed, bringing an end to a long legal battle and a difficult chapter for Prince George.
