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Homeless Edmontonians are taking their plight to the steps of the legislature.
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$ _! x" G4 ]+ h$ A+ {4 F- l* IThose recently evicted from provincial land behind the Bissell Centre and others who will be evicted from winter shelters at the end of the month plan to rally on June 27. : q2 C& m3 X' m" X! l. e; A
- Z* X* x$ J3 h( Y: o. Z"The homeless haven't ever been united, working together on their cause, because a lot of them have warrants or are scared of the police," said self-proclaimed street pastor Pedro Schultz.
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$ ?& L, p9 C/ p0 \! c7 Z"They always ask me what they can do to help, and this is a good start." " k a4 b; u5 M8 c, k* J5 C( ~
* q% i m3 A% k0 X2 w& c+ MSchultz is gathering a small army of vagrant supporters.
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"We want to let the premier know that it's his responsibility," he told Sun Media yesterday.
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# `$ C' z5 s* j* A, LThe "Vote for the Homeless" rally is an effort by Schultz to bring attention to skyrocketing rent increases and shelter closures - issues that he says have forced a number of Edmonton residents onto the streets.
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9 ^9 T5 t( i& E& R. Z3 K' B6 J, `The vocal street advocate said he decided to take matters to the provincial government when more than a dozen homeless tenters were evicted from provincial land behind the Bissell Centre last week.
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3 d9 y+ g' G9 T" B1 g+ d5 l% h* K6 R"Most of these people have moved down to the river valley, where it isn't safe for them to be, even if its summer."
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0 k% R5 R$ h% |& |4 ~Many of the homeless, Schultz added, are becoming victims of gang crime and theft now that they've been forced into less-populated areas of the city. * L$ h# x w( y0 m H, B( c
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While some may have moved into areas where people can't see them in the daylight, he said, the problem hasn't disappeared. |
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