Homeless

A homeless woman was given an 18-month jail sentence after an operation by VicPD to combat drug trafficking in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Homeless woman sentenced to 18 months in jail for selling drugs to Victoria police officer

Officer paid $20 for a substance consisting of heroin, fentanyl and caffeine

A homeless woman was given an 18-month jail sentence after an operation by VicPD to combat drug trafficking in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
A man walks through a homeless camp where approximately 150 people are living at a parking lot on Port of Vancouver property adjacent to Crab Park, in Vancouver on June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. announces creation of first-ever ‘navigation centre’ to help homeless

Residents referred to the navigation centre will be able to stay until longer-term housing is available

A man walks through a homeless camp where approximately 150 people are living at a parking lot on Port of Vancouver property adjacent to Crab Park, in Vancouver on June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Editorial: Not helping the homeless costs money in the long run

Editorial: Not helping the homeless costs money in the long run

Study determined that homeless people with mental illness generate high costs for society

Editorial: Not helping the homeless costs money in the long run
Tenters in Beacon Hill Park will now be forced to move to less sensitive areas after a court injunction was granted to the City of Victoria. (Black Press File Photo)

Victoria granted injunction to move tenters in Beacon Hill Park to less sensitive areas

Mayor Lisa Helps says she recognizes the move will be to ‘more visible’ areas

Tenters in Beacon Hill Park will now be forced to move to less sensitive areas after a court injunction was granted to the City of Victoria. (Black Press File Photo)
The Fuller Lake Arena parking lot is one of the temporary sites housing the homeless. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Police receive minimal calls to Cowichan homeless tenting sites

Officer attributes it to security and changed behaviour from COVID

The Fuller Lake Arena parking lot is one of the temporary sites housing the homeless. (Photo by Don Bodger)
VicPD is investigating a bike chop-shop located in Beacon Hill Park. (VicPD)

Victoria police investigating chop-shop found in Beacon Hill Park

Police asking public to register bikes with them in case lost or stolen

VicPD is investigating a bike chop-shop located in Beacon Hill Park. (VicPD)
The City of Victoria is looking for a court order to enforce sheltering rules in Beacon Hill Park. The City is looking to move people who are homeless out of culturally and environmentally sensitive areas and into designated areas of the park. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria seeks court order to enforce sheltering rules in Beacon Hill Park

People being asked to move out of environmentally sensitive areas of park

The City of Victoria is looking for a court order to enforce sheltering rules in Beacon Hill Park. The City is looking to move people who are homeless out of culturally and environmentally sensitive areas and into designated areas of the park. (Black Press Media file photo)
Before the site is developed, the Oak Bay Lodge could become a temporary shelter space. The Capital Regional District has asked staff to explore options for the building, which will sit empty once residents are moved to The Summit at Quadra Village. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

CRD explores option to use Oak Bay Lodge for people who are homeless

Motion asks staff to work with BC Housing, Island Health on possibilities

Before the site is developed, the Oak Bay Lodge could become a temporary shelter space. The Capital Regional District has asked staff to explore options for the building, which will sit empty once residents are moved to The Summit at Quadra Village. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Following the closure of the temporary homeless isolation space at SEAPARC, Sooke’s homeless population has set up camp in Ed Macgregor Park. (Dawn Gibson - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke homeless camp to stay until a solution is found

To forbid Ed Macgregor camp would go against Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Following the closure of the temporary homeless isolation space at SEAPARC, Sooke’s homeless population has set up camp in Ed Macgregor Park. (Dawn Gibson - Sooke News Mirror)
The Fuller Lake Arena parking lot homeless tenting site remains in place until further notice. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Extension given for Cowichan region homeless tenting sites

Meeting with BC Housing to determine the next step

The Fuller Lake Arena parking lot homeless tenting site remains in place until further notice. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Victoria council will allow people sheltering in parks to stay there 24-7 until more direction is received from the provincial health officer. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Campers allowed to stay in Beacon Hill Park for now

Victoria council continues to defer enforcement of bylaw requiring campers to pack up each morning

Victoria council will allow people sheltering in parks to stay there 24-7 until more direction is received from the provincial health officer. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Sooke’s homeless have relocated to Ed Macgregor Park following the closure of the temporary shelter at SEAPARC. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke’s homeless displaced to Ed Macgregor park

Temporary homeless shelter at SEAPARC closed July 22

  • Jun 25, 2020
Sooke’s homeless have relocated to Ed Macgregor Park following the closure of the temporary shelter at SEAPARC. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
The B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

‘Seven baths in two days’: Homeless adjusting to life in hotels

Victoria passes motion to allow camping 24-7 in parks until June 25

The B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Eight people arrested on Pandora Avenue after enforcement order issued

Eight people arrested on Pandora Avenue after enforcement order issued

Those living in homeless camps were given until May 20 to move indoors

Eight people arrested on Pandora Avenue after enforcement order issued
Bylaw officers stand ready to pack up people’s tents as they move into hotels. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Homeless worry about their future as deadline to move into hotel looms

Sandy Fisher says he won’t leave Pandora until everyone is in a safe home

Bylaw officers stand ready to pack up people’s tents as they move into hotels. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Tents erected side-by-side in the Fuller Lake site enclosure for the homeless. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Resident concerns abundant over parking lot homeless tent site at Island arena

Theft, harm to nearby trails top of mind for those who lives nearby in Chemainus

Tents erected side-by-side in the Fuller Lake site enclosure for the homeless. (Photo by Don Bodger)
This unused BMX track on Homewood Road will be used as a temporary campsite for people experiencing homelessness in Campbell River. Google image

Island city converting unused BMX track into temporary homeless campsite

The City of Campbell River is providing a site on an unused…

  • May 15, 2020
This unused BMX track on Homewood Road will be used as a temporary campsite for people experiencing homelessness in Campbell River. Google image
B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless.

Province buys Victoria hotel to be used as affordable housing for homeless

B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, at 3020 Blanshard St.

B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless.
Fuller Lake Arena is among the recreation facilities in the Municipality of North Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District that are now shut down. Its parking lot is being considered as a site for a temporary homeless camp during COVID-19. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Location search underway for 8-10 homeless tent sites in Cowichan

Fuller Lake Arena parking lot in Chemainus under consideration as part of COVID-related plan

Fuller Lake Arena is among the recreation facilities in the Municipality of North Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District that are now shut down. Its parking lot is being considered as a site for a temporary homeless camp during COVID-19. (Photo by Don Bodger)
FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, a person uses a smart phone in Chicago. (AP Photo)

B.C. gives smart phones to vulnerable, homeless to access services, connect with family

COVID-19 restrictions have left many public places closed, leaving people without access to internet

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, a person uses a smart phone in Chicago. (AP Photo)