Homeless

A homeless person sleeps under a tarp, metres away from Courtenay’s Connect Centre. (Olivier Laurin/Black Press)

WOLF: No one should sleep outside in bone-chilling temperatures

COLUMN: Better solutions needed for unhoused residents

 

Icy conditions down Pandora Avenue, have made life even more difficult for the unhoused as they battle the conditions to try and stay warm. (Thomas Eley/ News Staff)

‘They’re freezing to death’: Victoria’s unhoused community battles cold weather

Shelter coordinators say people are trying to stay warm, but they don’t always access facilities

 

3:59 a.m. - Usually bustling with life, Courtenay’s Connect Centre stands lifeless, hosting more than double its capacity as the region experiences its coldest night of the year. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

Out cold: Spending the coldest night of the year with Courtenay’s homeless

On the night of Jan.11, the temperature in the Comox Valley plummeted…

 

The Comox Valley is bracing for severe weather on Thursday night (Jan. 11), with temperatures expected to plummet to -12 C. Meanwhile, the region is still waiting to see the opening of an emergency weather shelter for its unhoused population. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Still no winter shelter as record-breaking cold set to strike Comox Valley

Emergency Warming Centre scheduled to open at Courtenay’s Native Sons Hall on the night of Jan. 11

The Comox Valley is bracing for severe weather on Thursday night (Jan. 11), with temperatures expected to plummet to -12 C. Meanwhile, the region is still waiting to see the opening of an emergency weather shelter for its unhoused population. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
An editor with an online media outlet says Edmonton police have arrested one of his reporters as they broke up a homeless encampment in the city. Police inspect a homeless encampment as residents and supporters have a stand off as police prepare to clear homeless encampments in Edmonton, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.

Reporter among 3 arrested as Edmonton homeless camp dismantled

Ricochet Media said their reporter had been released on a promise to appear in court

An editor with an online media outlet says Edmonton police have arrested one of his reporters as they broke up a homeless encampment in the city. Police inspect a homeless encampment as residents and supporters have a stand off as police prepare to clear homeless encampments in Edmonton, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
A man experiencing homelessness claimed he faced discrimination at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)

‘I wanna scrub up’: Unhoused man blocked from showers at West Shore centre

Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre staff called police

A man experiencing homelessness claimed he faced discrimination at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)
The Cowichan Valley Minor Hockey Association has joined the Cowichan Capitals hockey organization in voicing opposition to an emergency weather centre being set up at the Cowichan Community Centre. (Citizen file photo)

Minor hockey opposes emergency shelter at Cowichan Community Centre

Minor hockey association fears for safety of its members

The Cowichan Valley Minor Hockey Association has joined the Cowichan Capitals hockey organization in voicing opposition to an emergency weather centre being set up at the Cowichan Community Centre. (Citizen file photo)
Kelowna Tent City resident with a card made by students from Glenmore Elementary School. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna teacher works with Tent City resident to de-stigmatize homelessness

Students at Glenmore Elementary School spoke with a Tent City resident about homelessness in Kelowna

Kelowna Tent City resident with a card made by students from Glenmore Elementary School. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
On Nov. 3, outreach workers, bylaws, and RCMP officers were supervising the teardown of a homeless encampment, also known as street sweep, in the parking lot beside Connect Centre in downtown Courtenay. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)

OPINION: B.C. street sweeps perpetuate an endless cycle of misery

Dispossessing the homeless of their belongings does nothing to address the address

On Nov. 3, outreach workers, bylaws, and RCMP officers were supervising the teardown of a homeless encampment, also known as street sweep, in the parking lot beside Connect Centre in downtown Courtenay. (Connor McDowell/Comox Valley Record)
The Cowichan Capitals hockey organization fears that an emergency-weather shelter operating at the Cowichan Community Centre’s Heritage Hall will negatively impact its fan and revenues. (Citizen file photo)

Cowichan Capitals take issue with warming centre at community centre

Hockey club concerned with safety of fans, loss of revenue

The Cowichan Capitals hockey organization fears that an emergency-weather shelter operating at the Cowichan Community Centre’s Heritage Hall will negatively impact its fan and revenues. (Citizen file photo)
B.C. Human Rights Tribunal will hear a complaint from those who camp at Crab Park and allege the City of Vancouver and its park board discriminate against them by not providing “basic survival services.” Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park as the Celebrity Cruises vessel Celebrity Eclipse is docked at port in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Tribunal to hear Vancouver park encampment human rights complaint

Crab Park residents say park board discriminates against them by not providing survival services

B.C. Human Rights Tribunal will hear a complaint from those who camp at Crab Park and allege the City of Vancouver and its park board discriminate against them by not providing “basic survival services.” Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park as the Celebrity Cruises vessel Celebrity Eclipse is docked at port in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Greater Vernon Homeless Memorial at Polson Park commemorates those lost to the homelessness and drug epidemic. It will be moving to a new spot in 2024. (Bowen Assman- Morning Star)

Homeless deaths rise in Okanagan

Kelowna and Vernon saw 14 and 13 deaths last year

The Greater Vernon Homeless Memorial at Polson Park commemorates those lost to the homelessness and drug epidemic. It will be moving to a new spot in 2024. (Bowen Assman- Morning Star)
The intersection of Crowley Ave. and Weddell Pl. in Kelowna will be the site of a new tiny home village. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Industrial location chosen for Kelowna tiny home village raises concerns

People are concerned about safety and sleep with semi trucks loading and unloading 24/7

The intersection of Crowley Ave. and Weddell Pl. in Kelowna will be the site of a new tiny home village. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
The Victoria Cool Aid Society has launched a fundraising challenge to help buy socks. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)

Greater Victoria residents asked to donate to socks campaign

Goal is 10,000 socks for unhoused

  • Nov 4, 2023
The Victoria Cool Aid Society has launched a fundraising challenge to help buy socks. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)
Josh Rogers and his dog Turbo, are leaving the low-barrier housing where they were living for the past year. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Homeless in the heart of B.C.: Josh and Turbo’s story

30-year-old Josh Rogers planning to pitch a tent near Williams Lake after being evicted

Josh Rogers and his dog Turbo, are leaving the low-barrier housing where they were living for the past year. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Ric Young is seen at an encampment at downtown Halifax’s Grand Parade, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. He has been staying in the makeshift encampment for nearly three months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Clark

‘A huge deal’: Putting a face on the human rights crisis of the homeless

Unhoused people from across Canada speak to an increasing national problem

Ric Young is seen at an encampment at downtown Halifax’s Grand Parade, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. He has been staying in the makeshift encampment for nearly three months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Clark
A makeshift shelter sits among the landscaping of the Courtenay City Hall parking lot, with the Connect Centre in the background. The Connect Centre is a safe haven for the homeless. (File photo)

Comox Valley facing severe shortage of shelter options as winter looms

Nearly 80 per cent of area’s homeless population would be without a bed in case of an emergency

A makeshift shelter sits among the landscaping of the Courtenay City Hall parking lot, with the Connect Centre in the background. The Connect Centre is a safe haven for the homeless. (File photo)
Tents and other items scatter a City of Parksville lot. (PQB News file photo)

Point-in-time count reveals unhoused numbers for PQB region

More than 100 people identified in spring snapshot; health fair Oct. 11

Tents and other items scatter a City of Parksville lot. (PQB News file photo)
West Shore RCMP has seen a spike in the number of calls about the unhoused population at Danbrook Park in Langford. (Tanara Oliveira/News Staff)

‘We are treated like trash’: Langford unhoused speak out as numbers rise

Residents and unhoused want action from all levels of government

  • Sep 20, 2023
West Shore RCMP has seen a spike in the number of calls about the unhoused population at Danbrook Park in Langford. (Tanara Oliveira/News Staff)
This long train of shopping carts is a regular sight around Penticton. (Facebook)

B.C. town wants to fine stores for allowing shopping carts to be stolen

Penticton tired of dealing with abandoned carts scattered around the community

This long train of shopping carts is a regular sight around Penticton. (Facebook)