Family facing eviction upset with Ronald McDonald House afte A family says they will be evicted from a Ronald McDonald House facility in Vancouver because they are not vaccinated.
Austin Furgason, the father of a four-year-old being treated for cancer, received a letter from a senior director at Ronald McDonald House’s Heather Street location, outlining an updated COVID-19 vaccination policy. The charity that provides housing and support for families with children facing serious medical issues will soon require anyone staying at or visiting the BC & Yukon facilities to show proof of vaccination. The new mandate will be in effect by January 17.
“Because we don’t have the vaccine, you’re going to throw us (out) into the snow…. This is some type of crazy evil I have never seen in my life,” he said in a video he posted online.
He later added, “This isn’t about safety. This is coercing people to get a vaccine.”
However, in a statement to CityNews, Ronald McDonald House later said it would assist families in need of housing arrangements. It said social workers and family services team would help organize hotel stays or other options.
#BoycottMcDonalds started trending on Twitter after Furgason shared the video online of his reaction while confronting staff. Some applauded the charity’s decision for keeping at-risk patients safe, while others were outraged that families in need might be without a place to stay.
Other Ronald McDonald House facilities across Canada have not provided updates to their COVID vaccine policies as of yet.