People living in a small camp in CRAB Park are preparing to evacuate on Thursday morning.

This comes after the City of Vancouver notified people living in seven tents last week that it planned to return the area to “regular daytime use.”

“I’m defeated. I’m defeated. I’m obviously defeated,” three-year park resident Sacha Christiano told CTV News on Wednesday. Another.”

Even though there are only seven tents still standing, it’s an emotional moment for those who call this camp home.

While some of the people living in the park have been offered shelter, the idea of ​​moving indoors is not attractive to some people who have previously been offered housing.

“They all have pests,” a resident named Jenni told CTV News. “There are cockroaches, ants, bedbugs, there are silverfish, there are rats or mice.”

Advocates argue the camp provides a sense of community and other support, including donated food, and they fear plans to dismantle the camp.

“This doesn’t solve homelessness,” said CRAB Park camp advocate Fiona York. “He chases people from place to place. Getting them away from Hastings Street and making them take down their tents. This is so cruel; It doesn’t help. It doesn’t address anything.”

“You can say what you want about counseling and housing and all that, but it doesn’t address the bigger picture.”

Overnight camping will still be allowed, but structures must be dismantled each morning.

The city and the park board did not immediately have anyone available for comment Wednesday but said they would comment on the situation on Thursday.

Camping in the park first began in 2021 and has existed in various shapes and sizes ever since.