A Victoria resident claims she warned officials of an encampment on her street days before a fire was started and quickly spread, burning the front end of her car.

As a social worker for several years, Desiree Smiley is no stranger to street disorder issues. Almost daily, she works alongside the unhoused community.

“In the last seven years, at least from my perspective, a lot hasn’t changed,” said Smiley.

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On Friday night, she found herself on the other side of the issue. After getting a notification from a neighbouring tenant at her Field Street apartment, she went outside to find her car was on fire.

“It’s not just a panel replacement, a bumper, a headlight…I’m going to have to replace my windshield as well and that’s the expensive part,” said Smiley.

Early l

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