Homeless

A tent city. (Photo by Morf Morford)

‘Bad’ data harming efforts to deal with homelessness in Victoria: researcher

Study looked at Victoria and other major Canadian cities

  • Jan 22, 2023
A tent city. (Photo by Morf Morford)
Volunteer Kaya Dunk rings the bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign during Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay Light-Up festivities on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Salvation Army reports ‘staggering’ number of first-time Vancouver Island holiday users

Staffing continues to be an issue for organization as it works to support the less-fortunate

Volunteer Kaya Dunk rings the bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign during Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay Light-Up festivities on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A person hails a taxi as heavy snow falls in downtown Vancouver, late Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver and the south coast of B.C. with 10 to 20 centimetres of snow expected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. snowfall no winter wonderland for Vancouver’s poor and homeless, says advocate

Those living in tents face dangers ranging from hypothermia to risks of using candles or heaters

A person hails a taxi as heavy snow falls in downtown Vancouver, late Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver and the south coast of B.C. with 10 to 20 centimetres of snow expected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbia’s new Housing Ministry says the province is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 90 modular housing units in two locations with round-the-clock supports for people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. A temporary modular housing suite is visited by the public while on display in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

B.C., Vancouver partner to build modular housing in strategy to disperse street camps

Temporary homes will serve as a ‘bridge’ for people, David Eby says

British Columbia’s new Housing Ministry says the province is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 90 modular housing units in two locations with round-the-clock supports for people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. A temporary modular housing suite is visited by the public while on display in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
Lance DeBreé was presented with a Challenge Coin and certificate from the RCMP for his efforts to better himself and the community on Nov. 9. Pictured, from left, is Will Arnold, owner of Experience Cycling, Warren Kongas, a member of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, DeBreé and his mother Ro. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Police and community celebrate achievements of a once-troubled Duncan man

Lance DeBreé awarded with a RCMP Challenge Coin

Lance DeBreé was presented with a Challenge Coin and certificate from the RCMP for his efforts to better himself and the community on Nov. 9. Pictured, from left, is Will Arnold, owner of Experience Cycling, Warren Kongas, a member of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, DeBreé and his mother Ro. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
(PQB News file photo)

Ocean Place in Parksville unable to admit extra residents during cold snap

City resident opens up home to people in need of warm place to stay

(PQB News file photo)
Black Press Media file photo

Homelessness in Kelowna tripled in size in the last year: Bylaw

The cleaning of ‘Tent City’ required a backhoe, a dump truck, and about 20 RCMP and bylaw officers

Black Press Media file photo
FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

75% spike: 247 people experiencing homelessness died in 2021 in B.C.

Increase in lives lost fuelled by the ongoing toxic drug poisonings

FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Judicial review sought of fire order to remove tents off Vancouver street

Petition argues fire chief made order without procedural fairness to those living on Hastings Street

A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)

UPDATE: Charges laid after man dragged through encampment by truck

Driver arrested; Victim taken to hospital with serious injuries

A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)
(File photo)

Delving deeper into ending homelessness in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Part 3 of a series: ‘Providing affordable housing isn’t as simple as it may seem’

(File photo)
View Royal Park is set to become one of two within the municipality in which overnight camping by unhoused people will be allowed on a restricted basis, under an amended parks bylaw. (Courtesy Town of View Royal)

View Royal amending its parks bylaw to restrict overnight camping

Restricted camping to be allowed in View Royal and Portage Inlet Linear parks

View Royal Park is set to become one of two within the municipality in which overnight camping by unhoused people will be allowed on a restricted basis, under an amended parks bylaw. (Courtesy Town of View Royal)
Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna’s vulnerable want to shelter from heat wave, but bylaw requires they move

Bylaw requires residents of homeless encampment to pack-up and leave each morning

Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Sandy Souci, a homeowner near McAdam Park, stands next to a pile of garbage and debris left from campers in the wooded section of the area. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Fires, loud noise has neighbour fed up with campers near Duncan’s McAdam Park

Garbage, fires and crime disrupting residents

Sandy Souci, a homeowner near McAdam Park, stands next to a pile of garbage and debris left from campers in the wooded section of the area. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Bob Galligan holds pictures of his daughter and grandchildren. File photo

Face of Comox Valley’s unhoused population dies

Bob Galligan — who for many people and for many years was…

Bob Galligan holds pictures of his daughter and grandchildren. File photo
Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Blown electric bike battery sets Chamber building on fire in North Saanich

RCMP took the person in custody, said Al Smith of Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Staff with Threshold Housing Society outside one of the society’s homes for at-risk youth in Greater Victoria. The society has partnered with NIL TU,O to better serve Indigenous youth. (Black Press Media file photo)

New partnership to enhance support in Greater Victoria for Coast Salish youth

Culturally inclusive supports coming for youth at risk of experiencing homelessness

Staff with Threshold Housing Society outside one of the society’s homes for at-risk youth in Greater Victoria. The society has partnered with NIL TU,O to better serve Indigenous youth. (Black Press Media file photo)
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser is back again on Feb. 26 to raise funds for the Sooke Shelter Society. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)

Coldest Night of the Year back to raise $20k for Sooke Shelter Society

Taking place on Feb. 26, the walk will raise funds to help buy food, blankets and clothes

The Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser is back again on Feb. 26 to raise funds for the Sooke Shelter Society. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)