Homelessness

Bylaw officers removing personal belongings including tents and blankets from an encampment at Stradacona Park on Feb. 4 at 7:30 a.m. (Courtesy of Trent Smith)

‘An invasion’: Victoria homeless decry city and cops confiscating tents, food

Trent Smith, who is living homeless in Victoria said bylaw officers will take belongings arbitrarily

Bylaw officers removing personal belongings including tents and blankets from an encampment at Stradacona Park on Feb. 4 at 7:30 a.m. (Courtesy of Trent Smith)
Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)

Health officer pushes back as Campbell River tries to step around decriminalization

City urged to wait six months, ‘seek sound advice’ before forging ahead with drug use ban bylaw

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)
Jayson Anderson went missing July 2022 and his mother is searching for him. (Courtesy of Wanda Anderson)

Alberta mom of a missing Vancouver Island man continues search despite dead ends

Wanda Anderson working to find her son, Jayson Anderson, since he disappeared from Victoria in July

Jayson Anderson went missing July 2022 and his mother is searching for him. (Courtesy of Wanda Anderson)
Richard Waller ladles soup into containers for diners to take away with the recently implemented bag lunch program at The Soup Kitchen in Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Victoria soup kitchen serves up sandwiches, smiles, compassion

Service group hands out 32,724 meals in 2022, a 10% increase from 2021

Richard Waller ladles soup into containers for diners to take away with the recently implemented bag lunch program at The Soup Kitchen in Victoria. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Cathy Schmidt, Cowichan Valley School District chair, said the district strenuously objects to putting a new warming centre for the homeless in the parking lot of the Cowichan Community Centre, steps away from both the old and new Cowichan Secondary schools. (Citizen file)

Cowichan school district denounces plan for warming centre at community centre

Options for other sites being explored, Duncan mayor says

Cathy Schmidt, Cowichan Valley School District chair, said the district strenuously objects to putting a new warming centre for the homeless in the parking lot of the Cowichan Community Centre, steps away from both the old and new Cowichan Secondary schools. (Citizen file)
Shelley Cook, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association, said there’s a need for a warming centre for the homeless in the Cowichan region. (Citizen file photo)

New warming centre for homeless proposed for Cowichan Community Centre parking lot

Site would be located near new Cowichan Secondary, across the street from VIU

Shelley Cook, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association, said there’s a need for a warming centre for the homeless in the Cowichan region. (Citizen file photo)
Josh Derrah and Gina Dias. (Submitted photo)

Cold weather shelter not open on night of homeless man’s death in Duncan

28-year-old Josh Derrah died outside of the A&W on Dec. 20

Josh Derrah and Gina Dias. (Submitted photo)
Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN) its photographed at a Stabilization & Connection site designed to help people who are unhoused, in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

VIDEO: New hospital program helps Toronto’s homeless, cuts ambulance offload times

Stand-alone clinic provides space for people to recover from intoxication

Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN) its photographed at a Stabilization & Connection site designed to help people who are unhoused, in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Parksville council voted unanimously to provide support in principle for the operation of a centre by Risebridge at the Parksville Community Centre on Mills Street. (Risebridge photo via Facebook)

Homeless in Parksville will now have access to a daytime warming centre

Centre will be operated by Risebridge at community centre at 223 Mills St.

Parksville council voted unanimously to provide support in principle for the operation of a centre by Risebridge at the Parksville Community Centre on Mills Street. (Risebridge photo via Facebook)
View Royal Park is set to become the only place in town where restricted overnight camping by unhoused people will be allowed under an amended parks bylaw, which has been tabled until the new year over a restriction which if adopted as written would effectively ban camping even in View Royal Park. (Courtesy Town of View Royal)

View Royal postpones overnight camping bylaw until new year

The town is amending its parks bylaw to restrict overnight camping to one park with conditions

View Royal Park is set to become the only place in town where restricted overnight camping by unhoused people will be allowed under an amended parks bylaw, which has been tabled until the new year over a restriction which if adopted as written would effectively ban camping even in View Royal Park. (Courtesy Town of View Royal)
Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20 C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Social agencies and advocates say rising interest rates and a high rate of inflation are pushing more Canadians into homelessness. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘Perfect storm’ of inflation, high prices driving more into homelessness: advocates

Housing shortage, opioid crisis also making matters worse

Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20 C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Social agencies and advocates say rising interest rates and a high rate of inflation are pushing more Canadians into homelessness. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C., Vancouver partner to build modular housing for Downtown Eastside residents

90 temporary units to be ready by March 2023

Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Campbell River city council directed staff to undertake a financial analysis of the direct and indirect costs born by the city related to overdose prevention and safe injection sites and any other social services related to people experiencing addiction and/or mental health issues; including but not limited to policing costs, fire services and public works. (File photo)

Addiction services cost analysis feels vindictive, threatening: Campbell River councillor

Costs of services for people experiencing addiction, mental health issues to be identified

Campbell River city council directed staff to undertake a financial analysis of the direct and indirect costs born by the city related to overdose prevention and safe injection sites and any other social services related to people experiencing addiction and/or mental health issues; including but not limited to policing costs, fire services and public works. (File photo)
David Screech said he has been forced to seriously consider moving Greggs Furniture and Upholstery somewhere else in Greater Victoria due to an increasing number of concerning incidents at its current Government Street location. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Home since ‘55, Greggs Furniture and Upholstery pondering move out of Victoria

David Screech said an increasing amount of concerning incidents driving possible move

David Screech said he has been forced to seriously consider moving Greggs Furniture and Upholstery somewhere else in Greater Victoria due to an increasing number of concerning incidents at its current Government Street location. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver city council approves funding for more police, mental-health nurses

Motion leaves door open for provincial or federal government to contribute

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier David Eby makes an announcement in Vancouver on November 20, 2022. On Nov. 21, Eby announced his plan to tackle the province’s housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Eby drills down on age-restrictive stratas, municipal targets in new housing measures

Proposed legislation will give B.C. greater control over how communities address housing needs

B.C. Premier David Eby makes an announcement in Vancouver on November 20, 2022. On Nov. 21, Eby announced his plan to tackle the province’s housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Auditor General will table several reports on Tuesday that will assess the government’s performance on a range of issues, including reducing chronic homelessness.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

VIDEO: Feds don’t know if they’re reducing homelessness, says auditor general

Hogan says lack of outcome accountability characterizes 1.36 billion housing effort

Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Auditor General will table several reports on Tuesday that will assess the government’s performance on a range of issues, including reducing chronic homelessness.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Signy Madden, United Way B.C. regional director, left, and Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. minister of mental health and addictions, present at the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s State of the Island Economic Summit at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 26. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Solutions for mental health and substance-use challenges discussed at Island summit

Preventative actions, correctional release support, industry-focused resources discussed

Signy Madden, United Way B.C. regional director, left, and Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. minister of mental health and addictions, present at the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s State of the Island Economic Summit at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 26. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
The annual Victoria Cool Aid fundraiser sees socks distributed through 25 organizations from Nanaimo to Victoria and Salt Spring Island. (Cool Aid Society/Facebook)

Cool Aid, businesses pool resources in campaign to collect 10,000 pairs of socks

Foot nurse emphasizes health value of clean, dry, cared-for feet

The annual Victoria Cool Aid fundraiser sees socks distributed through 25 organizations from Nanaimo to Victoria and Salt Spring Island. (Cool Aid Society/Facebook)
People facing homelessness face many stigmas, says the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. The group hosts a workshop in Sooke on Oct. 15. (File - Black Press Media)

Workshop in Sooke sets its sights on erasing homelessness’s stigmas

Homelessness is increasing in Sooke

People facing homelessness face many stigmas, says the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. The group hosts a workshop in Sooke on Oct. 15. (File - Black Press Media)