Friends of the Woodwards Squat

This outlines the role and responsibilities of a Woodsquat witness, such as observing police activity from a reasonable distance. It also provides a statement for police that describes the right to assemble, remain silent, and to speak to a lawyer, as well as lists an order of calls to make and location of payphones. The witness shifts are organized in response to potential enforcement of a city injunction against the squat.

This is a newsletter of the Anti-Poverty Committee, an anti-capitalist and anti-oppression organization fighting for the rights of poor and working people in Vancouver, BC. This issue includes the articles: ""Hope Village Fights for the Right to Sleep in Peace"" (on the proposal for a legal tent city brought before COPE and the need for shelter and social housing), ""Safe Streets: Safe for Who?"" (on the Safe Streets Coalition's proposed legislation against panhandling and squeegeeing which are described as attacks on the poor and homeless), and ""Dissent Members and HEU Right IWA Local"" (on actions against the leader of an IWA Local that is not working on the behalf of the members but for the BC Liberals). It also states their basis of unity, lists ways to get involved through meetings and donations, and announces that their office has moved.

This presents information from scientific studies on the impact of enforcement on the health of drug users and the drug market. It presents local evidence from the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study and from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence for HIV/AIDS. All suggest that increasing enforcement affects visibility of drug market, but does not decrease drug use or drug user's safety.

This outlines the needs and rationales for setting-up a homeless advocacy centre to address the holistic needs of the homeless, with both outreach and in-house services. Suggested outreach services include clothing and blanket distribution, hot chocolate and fruit distribution, high risk identification log, referral services, housing, mental health, clinics, and escort and transportation services. In-housing services include a community kitchen, food club, advocacy services, health clinics, rights and services workshops, community access, and job club.