B.C. Housing CEO retires, citing threats to his safety

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In a prolonged private assertion, Shayne Ramsay mentioned ‘one thing shifted’ when he noticed a homicide on the seashore close to CRAB Park again in Might

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The chief government officer of B.C. Housing has retired abruptly, saying he can now not repair the myriad issues going through the group and is anxious for his personal security.

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In a prolonged private assertion, Shayne Ramsay mentioned “one thing shifted” in his life when he noticed a homicide on the seashore close to CRAB Park again in Might, then watched in horror as two individuals coping with homelessness had been murdered this previous week.

Ramsay mentioned he had taken his canine for a stroll on a daily Saturday morning on Might 7 when he noticed police converge on CRAB Park, one among a number of tent cities which were cropping up round Metro Vancouver.

“On the seashore, a person lay fatally stabbed,” mentioned Ramsay. “My neighbour, who lingered a bit longer than Fred (his canine) and me, was shocked by the 2 younger males accused of his homicide as they ran throughout the park to get to him.

“Over the previous week, individuals who had been homeless and previously homeless had been murdered, and a girl was deliberately lit on fireplace only a block from the place I stay.”

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Ramsay mentioned the final straw was being mobbed final week after speaking to reporters a couple of public listening to for proposed social housing within the Kitsilano neighbourhood, close to the deliberate Arbutus subway cease.

“I used to be swarmed by opponents and threatened with bodily violence,” mentioned Ramsay. “I needed to be escorted to a personal elevator, for my security.”

Ramsay mentioned town has informed him it amounted to assault. “This time it was offended phrases and a fist, subsequent time it could possibly be worse,” he lamented.

He blamed a “small however vocal” group throughout B.C. who’ve grow to be “more and more offended and more and more risky” of their opposition to social housing — whereas the homeless face terrible lives on the road attributable to an absence of enough shelter.

“Whereas one group faces the virtually sure prospect of poverty, poor well being, violence and untimely loss of life, others are actually unwilling to supply a welcoming house, an area that would save lives,” he wrote.

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“I now not believe I can resolve the advanced issues going through us … It’s time for another person to step into the management function at B.C. Housing.”

Ramsay, who’s 61, has been with B.C. Housing for 26 years. His final day shall be Sept. 6.

B.C. Housing works with the non-public and non-profit sectors, provincial well being authorities, all ranges of presidency and group teams to develop a spread of housing, together with rental help, social housing and different applications to deal with homelessness and the affordability disaster.

jruttle@postmedia.com


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