Little has changed in two weeks since Hastings Street sweep

Police say the recent dismantling of the East Hastings Street homeless encampment is producing favourable results, but business owners and neighbourhood residents say they have yet to see much benefit.

While 80 or so tents have been removed from the street’s 100-block, it hasn’t stopped inhabitants of the makeshift homes from congregating. Some huddled underneath umbrellas Thursday afternoon, others lay on the street without any cover from the rain.

Long-time employee Abby Lai of Bamboo Village said that although the streets are visibly cleaner outside the Chinatown shop, chaos continues in the neighbourhood.

“There are still tons of people who sleep outside the shop at night,” Lai said. “It’s sad. We’re calling 911 a lot because many of them pass out from overdoses.”

At Garlane Pharmacy at Main and Hastings, pharmacist Ken Wong said the amount of theft has not really changed.