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Residents of an East Richmond neighbourhood are getting increasingly frustrated with a growing tent city in their community.

The homeless camp, which started with two tent but now numbers at least six, has been sitting on city-owned land near Westminster Highway and Boundary Road since October, when the core group of five to six campers were renovicted from a nearby rental home.

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But one resident of the Hamilton neighbourhood, Jen Joyce, said the camp’s proximity to a community centre and daycare has made it a safety concern.

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“My car got broken into last year, there’s been a lot of residents reporting crime,” she said. “There’s a lot of drug paraphernalia lying around, as well. I know people who have watched drug deals happen.”

Joyce said the city has responded to several complaints received from the neighbourhood, leading to increased garbage collection and signage. She also understands the campers’ desire for proper housing instead of modular or temporary shelters.

The problem now, she says, is the illegal activity she sees on a daily basis.

READ MORE: Judge gives residents of Nanaimo tent city 3 weeks to clear out

“I used to take my kids biking down that street, and we won’t do that anymore because there’s needles on the ground,” Joyce said. “[The campers] are right across from a daycare and they’re defecating in full view. We just want that kind of stuff to stop.”

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One camper Global News talked to said they want to find housing, but are facing an insurmountable occupancy rate.

“We have jobs, we have money, we can pay rent,” the camper said through their tent. “We just want a place to go.”

People living in this tent camp in Richmond say they have money to pay rent but can’t finding housing anywhere. Some neighbours have concerns about the camp and want it gone. City says Bylaws, Fire and/or or RCMP staff visit the site daily. pic.twitter.com/NnDLV81QVQ — Jill Bennett (@jillreports) April 6, 2019

In a statement, the city said staff, fire officials and police visit the site on a daily basis, and the campers have been cooperative in ensuring safety standards are being met.

The city also said RCMP have not reported an increase in crime in the area.

“[The campers] are actively trying to secure rental housing on their own and are also working with city and provincial staff to identify potential social housing options,” spokesperson Ted Townsend said.

WATCH: Coverage of the tent city in Saanich on Globalnews.ca

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“We share the residents’ desire to bring this situation to a satisfactory resolution.”

Richmond-Queensborough MLA Jas Johal met with residents on Saturday to hear their concerns, and says he’s understanding of both sides of the issue.

“There’s compassion in this neighbourhood, and if it’s a housing issue, we need to address that,” Johal said. “But there’s also a drug issue, possibly mental health issues as well, and if that’s the case, we need the city to clamp down on that and make sure it doesn’t grow worse.”

In a Facebook post on Friday, a local resident who started a group called Hamilton Homeless Camps says he has set up a meeting with Mayor Malcolm Brodie for Monday.

Richmond is just the latest city in B.C. to be faced with a homeless camp.

WATCH: Coverage of the tent city and homeless issues in Nanaimo on Globalnews.ca

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Maple Ridge is currently embroiled in a battle with the province over how to address housing for the residents of Anita Place, the tent city that was evacuated earlier this year after multiple fires and safety hazards broke out.

And on the island, tent cities in Saanich and Nanaimo have been broken up and their residents forced to find housing elsewhere, so long as it’s off city-owned land.

— With files from Jill Bennett