A group of about 50 people from the street community did a huge cleanup of the Peardonville Road encampment in Abbotsford on Sunday (Dec. 22).
The cleanup was organized through the Business Engagement and Ambassadorship Program (BEAP).
The camp is behind the LIFE’s Second Chance Thrift Store in the area of South Fraser Way and Peardonville Road and is one of about 40 that the city says currently exist throughout the community.
Members of the cleanup crew were paid honorariums of $20 per hour.
BEAP was created in 2018 after a meeting of the Abbotsford Drug War Survivors, with more than 100 individuals attending.
BEAP emerged from people with lived and living experience, many of whom wanted to step back into some form of employment – even it just a casual volunteer labour pool.
BEAP is peer-led, with projects being decided upon as a group.
“Between meetings to crisis to the small details, drug-using/homeless citizens and the community are collaborating everything,” the website states.
Among the projects BEAP has been involved in is overdose response work, including Naloxone training, safe consumption sites, harm-reduction supplies and peer support programs.
The group has also provided opportunities for dialogues workshop and conferences around drug use, homelessness and more.
Visit “BEAP” on Facebook or search “BEAP” on the Community Action Initiative website at caibc.ca.
