People who experience homelessness in B.C. and those who advocate for them say they’re worried about how the province’s vaccine passport will impact their day-to-day lives.
“I don’t carry [my I.D.] on me, I keep it at home, that way I know it’s safe and I’m not going to lose it,” said Dan Turner.
And Turner is one of the lucky ones. He has a home now, but after living on the street for five years he knows how tough it is to keep documents safe.
That’s why the province’s upcoming vaccine card concerns him.
“I see it being a problem, especially in the homeless community,” said Turner. “They don’t have cellphones, and keeping a cardboard card when you’re homeless is just going to get lost or destroyed.”
Meaning hundreds in Victoria, and thousands across Vancouver Island and B.C. will likely struggle to use the vaccine passport which comes into effect Sept. 13.
“The biggest problem will be when the rain starts and people want to go into the Tim Horton’s or the McDonald’s to get out of the rain. And without the vaccine passport, they won’t be able to access those types of places. So that will be a struggle,” said Grant McKenzie, communications director of Our Place.
Shelters like Our Place offer three hot meals a day, but because of the pandemic, they’re running at half capacity, meaning more marginalized people will be looking for dry indoor space elsewhere.
“These aren’t optional services. Accessing a place like McDonald’s or Tim Horton’s is very important to their day-to-day needs like toileting facilities,” said Doug King, CEO of Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS). “The hard reality is people are going to be left behind. The government has come up with a plan that excludes a portion of the population and they will suffer because of that.”
The province says it’s developing a secure alternative for those without easy access to the web. But King says that feels like an afterthought.
“That sends a pretty terrible message that they aren’t prioritized in this process,” said King.
Back at Our Place, Turner says as a result of the vaccine mandate, he expects there to be conflict between some of the lowest-paid workers in those shops and those experiencing homelessness.
“Some stores show them compassion. But lots just because of the stereotypes, some are already angry at them,” said Turner.
People who experience homelessness in B.C. and those who advocate for them say they’re worried about how the province’s vaccine passport will impact their day-to-day lives. (CHEK News)
Kori Sidaway
