Vancouver To Clear City Of Homeless

Vancouver, British Columbia (AHN) - Vancouver is taking off the streets 300 homeless people mostly from the Downtown Eastside area and will transfer them into a housing project next summer.

The venture is one of the projects of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, although observers see in the move early preparations to spruce up the city in preparation for its hosting of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Aside from providing to the city's homeless access to housing which comes with a rent subsidy, the project targets also those with mental health and addiction problems, said Paula Goering, lead researcher for the project.

"Instead of the service providers in the system predetermining what it is that people need and where they should be, you ask the individual what they want and, as much as possible, your actions are guided by their choices and their preferences," Goering told the Globe and Mail.

Meanwhile, with the winter games barely two years away, Vancouver is in the thick of preparations constructing the facilities and infrastructure required. Most of the venues have been completed and Canadian athletes have familiarized themselves with its facilities and feel.

Vancouver plans to sell 1.6 million ticket for the various sport, with 70 percent allocated to the general public. The ticket prices vary depending on the event and the seat location, but the Vancouver Olympic Committee has assured it will sell over 100,000 tickets at $25, while 50,000 will be given to those who could not afford to purchase a ticket.