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Affordable housing advocates said on Sunday that they plan to act out their frustrations by starting up squatters’ camps on public property and occupying buildings slated for demolition.

As about two dozen tents were pitched at a vacant City of Vancouver lot on Hastings Street, housing activists in Burnaby took over a building that is scheduled for the wrecking ball.

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A tent was pitched in front of the Burnaby building at 5025 Imperial St. and about a dozen people planned to occupy the vacated apartment complex that is slated for demolition to make way for high-priced condominiums.

The group of activists and former renters hung a banner from the roof that said: Stop demovictions.

Photo by Handout / PNG

Kaye Bedford, a spokeswoman for Alliance Against Displacement, said they want Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and his council to start creating affordable housing for people who are struggling with the high cost of living in the city.

“Burnaby needs to come up with a housing plan to help low-income earners,” said Bedford. The complex on Imperial, she said, was home for a lot of seniors and low-income families.

“Unfortunately, now we have to break the law,” she said of the occupation of the boarded-up building. “It seems Mayor Corrigan is not listening to us.”

“There were single moms and the elderly here and they need to stop kicking people out of their homes.”

Martin Fernandez , 44, was evicted from his apartment on Imperial Street a short time ago, but was able to find another apartment a few blocks away. But his rent went up almost $400 and he now pays $1,150 for an apartment for himself and his two young children and his mother.

“I was lucky to find a place,” said the single parent. “Some of my neighbours can’t find or afford a place around here.

“They need more affordable housing in Burnaby.”