CRACKDOWN FINDS HOTEL PROBLEMS

They'll point you to the nearest drug dealer and take your welfare
cheque, in a Downtown Eastside hotel game police allege is too common.

After conducting a 10-week undercover sting, called Project Haven, on
three hotels in the DTES, Vancouver police found out how deeply
entrenched the victimization of marginalized people in the area has
become.

"(Residents) are routinely being preyed upon by greedy people," said
Insp. Bob Roll. "These are extremely wealthy people that can't resist
the temptation to take money away from the poor and line their own
pockets."

During the investigation undercover officers checked into the Astoria
Hotel at 769 East Hastings, Lucky Lodge at 134 Powell, and The Gastown
Hotel, at 110 Water Street, and witnessed shocking levels of welfare
fraud and drug trafficking plus poor living conditions.

"One of our officers managed to sell his cheque and buy drugs before
he even made it to his room," said Rolls. "The managers directed us to
a room where drugs were available and even suggested what we should
steal for them."

Welfare fraud was one of the biggest concerns, he added.

"Managers would buy cheques for $50, forcing people onto the streets
because they can't afford rent," said Rolls. "One owner said he did
that over 40 times a month. Think about it, that's over $16,000 he's
making from marginalized people."

Staff from all three hotels are facing multiple charges, including 17
counts of drug trafficking.

Police say they will push for the closure of these, and other hotels,
claiming they only take advantage of people and that conditions in the
hotels aren't much better than on the street.

Rolls also wants the provincial Ministry of Employment and Income
Assistance to step up with more checks to make sure welfare recipients
aren't being exploited. Anne McKinnon, the ministry's spokesperson,
said they were pleased to be a part of the operation and have been
working to curb fraud for years.