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Homeless encampments are some of the most visible evidence of the failure by all levels of government to protect the human right to adequate housing. In B.C., recent years have seen encampments from Surrey to Smithers and Vernon to Victoria. Often, we respond not by addressing what causes encampments, but by scattering the people living there—frequently through the use of police force. BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner continues to work to respond to the rise of encampments as a failure to uphold the human right to adequate housing.

The Commissioner’s guidance in this brief addresses the issue as a right to adequate housing that all levels of government are responsible for upholding. The brief outlines three main areas of importance:

  • the right to adequate housing
  • the rights of encampment residents
  • the violation of human rights caused by forced evictions
Download this brief (PDF, 159KB)

This brief is accessible to PDF Universal Accessibility (UA) standards. If you require an alternative format or would like to report errors or give feedback, you can contact BCOHRC at  or 1-844-922-6472. 

Other resources

  • Commissioner Govender’s September 2023 op-ed:
    • Speaks to the fact that local authorities, in partnership with other levels of government, must fulfill their obligations to encampment residents and stop forcibly evicting them without regard to their legally protected human rights.
  • Our Poverty page:
    • Inadequate standard of living is one of the key issues that our Office focuses on. Discover the work we do in this area.
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