B.C. Housing is covering up its dirty little secret with $2 rollers and cheap brown paint, according to advocates for Little Mountain Housing.
Supporters who painted murals on plywood that cover the windows at the largely abandoned social housing project last week were shocked to learn slogans such as "Home is where the heart is" had been painted over by a graffiti clean-up crew in the past few days.
"B.C. Housing is afraid of the words," said advocate Kia Salomons "There was another painting that said, 'Love still lives here,' and it was blotted out - very offensive."
B.C. Housing regional director Dale McMann said his agency allowed the event to take place without explicit consent but covered up some images felt to be inappropriate for a family neighbourhood.
"There was a slogan around Helter Shelter - sort of a vague reference to the old Charles Manson Helter Skelter days," McMann said. "We wanted to ensure those types of paintings were removed."
Community Advocates for Little Mountain have called on the province to restore 224 social housing units rather than pursue commercial development scheduled since early 2007.
NDP MLA David Chudnovsky said the paint job is another example of the government sticking its head in the sand rather than addressing the province's most crucial issues.
"What do we need in Vancouver?" he posed. "Another 2,000 million-dollar condos? Or affordable housing for middle class and working class people who need it?"
