Surrey
Unceded and Occupied Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt & Kwikwetlem Territories
Red Braid began organizing in Surrey in 2015 alongside residents of the 135A Street “Surrey Strip.” Some referred to the Strip as a tent city, while others called it an “outdoor prison” because of the intense harassment and surveillance they faced from the “Surrey Outreach Team” – a team of 12 police and four bylaw officers, established to patrol the Strip 24/7. In June 2018, the City of Surrey erected 160 ATCO trailer rooms and cleared the Surrey Strip of tents. Some residents were moved into the modular housing, others into shelters, and the rest were scattered across Surrey. Former residents of the Strip established Sanctuary Tent City in June 2019, defending it from displacement pressures until December, when the City of Surrey bulldozed the camp.
Leaders that emerged out of these struggles continue to organize for homeless survival and power as leaders of the June 8th Network.
Updates and Events
“TD Takeover” occupation of Surrey modular housing ends in mass arrests
Yesterday homeless activists and supporters barricaded themselves in a wing of Nickerson Place modular housing, known as the "TD mods" to the local street community. The occupation lasted six hours, ending with the Surrey RCMP arresting 23 people without warning.
“TD Takeover” Declaration
By occupying the TD mods and evicting Lookout Society, our movement is taking for ourselves what the government, property developers, and the non-profit poverty industry will never and can never give us: housing that we control ourselves.
Homeless activists occupy Surrey modular housing being demolished for condos
Homeless activists and supporters have occupied Nickerson Place modular housing, known as the "TD mods." They are protesting its closure and redevelopment as luxury condos and demanding permanent, low-income housing.
Block the closure of Surrey’s “TD mods,” fight for tenant-run housing
In the midst of a global pandemic and spiralling economic crisis, Surrey is demolishing one of its few non-market, welfare-rate housing developments.
BC Housing closes Surrey modular housing building as homelessness and COVID-19 rates surge
BC Housing is planning to close down 46 units of low-income housing this week, as COVID-19 rates surge and hundreds, if not thousands, of BC renters face homelessness in the coming weeks with the end of the eviction moratorium in September.
City of Surrey orders tent city residents off empty lot, back to alleys and doorways
On the morning of Wednesday June 24th, which is welfare cheque issue day, Surrey Bylaw officers returned to Whalley World Tent City and delivered a threatening eviction notice.