Homeless

Homeless people in Parksville Qualicum Beach are currently without a designated cold-weather shelter. (PQB News file photo)

Qualicum Beach council looks to solve area’s cold-weather shelter problem

Harrison: ‘It’s likely that there will be a hard winter for a lot of folks’

Homeless people in Parksville Qualicum Beach are currently without a designated cold-weather shelter. (PQB News file photo)
Katherine McParland was executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit agency devoted to working on ending youth homelessness. McParland herself was homeless for a period of time after aging out of the foster system. Photograph By KTW FILE

Kamloops homeless advocate leaves defining legacy following death

The death of the executive director of A Way Home Kamloops is being mourned by the team at the agency

  • Dec 7, 2020
Katherine McParland was executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit agency devoted to working on ending youth homelessness. McParland herself was homeless for a period of time after aging out of the foster system. Photograph By KTW FILE
Shea Smith is one of three creators of The Homeless Idea podcast. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Victoria podcasters talk homelessness first-hand

Three homeless residents created The Homeless Idea to give themselves a voice

Shea Smith is one of three creators of The Homeless Idea podcast. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Those looking for shelter at Warmland House may soon find that option limited as Warmland cuts capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)

Warmland House in Duncan cutting back on shelter beds due to COVID

Decision a safety precaution during pandemic

Those looking for shelter at Warmland House may soon find that option limited as Warmland cuts capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo)
Two Victoria councillors are bringing a motion to Thursday’s meeting in hopes of securing funding for free transit fare for Victoria’s unhoused community. (Black Press Media file photo)
Two Victoria councillors are bringing a motion to Thursday’s meeting in hopes of securing funding for free transit fare for Victoria’s unhoused community. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Victoria Police Department arrested a man Nov. 3 after receiving reports that he had set a fire inside a Beacon Hill Park tent. (Black Press Media file photo)

VicPD arrests man who set fire in Beacon Hill tent

The man had previously been prohibited from entering Victoria parks

The Victoria Police Department arrested a man Nov. 3 after receiving reports that he had set a fire inside a Beacon Hill Park tent. (Black Press Media file photo)
A community tent in Beacon Hill Park was set up in order to provide a safe, dry place for people who are living outside. (Facebook/Beverley Joy)

Beacon Hill Park’s unhoused install community tent as Victoria weather turns wet

Organizers say dry, safe place needed to replace unavailable shelter space

A community tent in Beacon Hill Park was set up in order to provide a safe, dry place for people who are living outside. (Facebook/Beverley Joy)
An illustration was given to the Parksville’s Church of the Ascension by a person, in appreciation for allowing use of its shower facility. (Mike Favero/Submitted photo)

Parksville church makes showers available to the homeless

Pastor receives special illustration from one appreciative person

An illustration was given to the Parksville’s Church of the Ascension by a person, in appreciation for allowing use of its shower facility. (Mike Favero/Submitted photo)
Graham Hughes, front, who ran as an independent candidate in the B.C. provincial election, sits with half a dozen supporters in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter, where Hughes is protesting the way homelessness has been dealt with in Port Alberni, on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Protesters occupy Port Alberni’s shelter

Former election candidate leads sit-in outside to protest homelessness

Graham Hughes, front, who ran as an independent candidate in the B.C. provincial election, sits with half a dozen supporters in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter, where Hughes is protesting the way homelessness has been dealt with in Port Alberni, on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Our Home on 8th, the Port Alberni Shelter that opened in March 2019, has 27 extra ‘extreme weather’ spaces for people who need a place to get out of the cold. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

BC VOTES 2020: Mid-Island candidate plans occupation of shelter to protest homelessness

Graham Hughes says homeless situation a ‘crisis’ in Port Alberni

Our Home on 8th, the Port Alberni Shelter that opened in March 2019, has 27 extra ‘extreme weather’ spaces for people who need a place to get out of the cold. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Victoria council will discuss sheltering in parks on Thursday. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria council to discuss using Royal Athletic Park for sheltering again

North Park Neighbourhood Association wants to see a distributed approach to sheltering in city parks

Victoria council will discuss sheltering in parks on Thursday. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Victoria School District, the City of Victoria, the Victoria Police Department and leadership at South Park Family School have released a plan for a safe school restart on Sept. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Victoria School District, the City of Victoria, the Victoria Police Department and leadership at South Park Family School have released a plan for a safe school restart on Sept. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria city council has asked staff to form a bylaw limiting the placement and size of temporary shelters. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Victoria city council requests bylaw restricting temporary shelter size, distance from parks and schools

Council carries motions on temporary sheltering after hours-long committee meeting

Victoria city council has asked staff to form a bylaw limiting the placement and size of temporary shelters. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps hoped to find an alternative that could see Oak Bay Lodge used for short-term housing, but she found little support for the idea at a CRD hospital and housing committee meeting Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)

CRD committee rejects plea to revisit temporary shelter proposal for Oak Bay Lodge

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps’ request to find creative way to make it work finds little support

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps hoped to find an alternative that could see Oak Bay Lodge used for short-term housing, but she found little support for the idea at a CRD hospital and housing committee meeting Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Housing has been asked to extend funding to keep the five tenting sites for the homeless in the Valley, including the one at Fuller Lake Arena that is pictured, in place until the 100 units of affordable housing that are planned for the region are completed. (File photo)

Officials want smooth transition from tents to homes in Cowichan

Modular housing for the homeless could be in place within months

BC Housing has been asked to extend funding to keep the five tenting sites for the homeless in the Valley, including the one at Fuller Lake Arena that is pictured, in place until the 100 units of affordable housing that are planned for the region are completed. (File photo)
Aging out of the foster care system and losing supports can lead to youth homelessness, research suggests. (Black Press Media file photo)

Aging out of care: youth face growing risk of homelessness

Final segment of a four-part series on youth homelessness in Greater Victoria

  • Sep 3, 2020
Aging out of the foster care system and losing supports can lead to youth homelessness, research suggests. (Black Press Media file photo)
A tent in the Centennial Square encampment caught fire in June. City staff ordered the relocation of campers on Aug. 28. (@busdriverlife/Twitter)

Spreading out Centennial Square homeless can cause more problems: advocate

Victoria mayor says long-term solutions are needed for vulnerable population

A tent in the Centennial Square encampment caught fire in June. City staff ordered the relocation of campers on Aug. 28. (@busdriverlife/Twitter)
A mini-documentary created by The Existence Project profiles a resident of Beacon Hill Park. (Photo courtesy The Existence Project)

WATCH: Documentary profiling Vancouver Islander aims to connect homeless with broader society

Founder of The Existence Project hopes film evokes empathy, understanding in viewers

A mini-documentary created by The Existence Project profiles a resident of Beacon Hill Park. (Photo courtesy The Existence Project)
Staff from the Threshold Housing Society help local youth at risk with key elements of their safety and security, not least of which is stable accommodation. (Courtesy Threshold Housing)

A hidden homeless scenario: The search for safe housing for youth

Part three in a series on youth homelessness in Greater Victoria

  • Aug 23, 2020
Staff from the Threshold Housing Society help local youth at risk with key elements of their safety and security, not least of which is stable accommodation. (Courtesy Threshold Housing)
Gaps in the system: Youth cope with homelessness on Vancouver Island

Gaps in the system: Youth cope with homelessness on Vancouver Island

Four-part series will look at youth homelessness

  • Aug 10, 2020
Gaps in the system: Youth cope with homelessness on Vancouver Island