Housing and Homelessness

Sue Moen is championing the idea of a YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) group in Campbell River. The Rose Harbour development is an example of the community coming together to show the need for beneficial housing projects. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River group wants to say “Yes in my backyard”

Those interested invited to help educate, advocate and speak for positive housing development

Sue Moen is championing the idea of a YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) group in Campbell River. The Rose Harbour development is an example of the community coming together to show the need for beneficial housing projects. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Captain Michael Ramsay, left, Colin Minions and Delano Lake from Salvation Army, and Shawn McAnerin, operations manager for Kuu-us Crisis Line Society, test the water systems in a new mobile shower unit that will provide a place for people without homes to shower. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Mobile showers hit the road in Port Alberni to give the unhoused a place to clean up

Mobile showers are on loan from the Salvation Army ARC in Victoria

Captain Michael Ramsay, left, Colin Minions and Delano Lake from Salvation Army, and Shawn McAnerin, operations manager for Kuu-us Crisis Line Society, test the water systems in a new mobile shower unit that will provide a place for people without homes to shower. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The first modular units are installed for a BC Housing project at 1176 Yates St. in Victoria. (BC Housing/Facebook)

Workers stack up latest supportive housing project in Victoria

Demolition of dilapidated Yates Street house makes way for about 40 homes

The first modular units are installed for a BC Housing project at 1176 Yates St. in Victoria. (BC Housing/Facebook)
Shawn Decaire from Kwesa Place unveils the “Angel Pod” tiny home concept at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Tiny home pods offer ‘emergency middle ground’ for Campbell River’s unhoused people

Walk With Me Campbell River’s goal is to provide 30 units for people by fall 2022

Shawn Decaire from Kwesa Place unveils the “Angel Pod” tiny home concept at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Agnes Thomas constructs a dream catcher at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Agnes Thomas constructs a dream catcher at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
The Connect Warming Centre at 685 Cliffe Ave. has closed for the daytime, but showers and overnight service remain open until March 31. File photo

Courtenay warming centre closing during the day due to funding shortfall

Showers and overnight service will remain open until March 31

The Connect Warming Centre at 685 Cliffe Ave. has closed for the daytime, but showers and overnight service remain open until March 31. File photo
The corner of Quadra and Johnson streets showing the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, which a man camping on a Pandora Street roof climbed to evade police on March 6. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria police detain man after rooftop campsite standoff

Half-a-dozen Victoria police vehicles seen at Quadra and Johnson streets

The corner of Quadra and Johnson streets showing the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, which a man camping on a Pandora Street roof climbed to evade police on March 6. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
A couple of tents in Beacon Hill Park in January 2020. The B.C. Supreme Court ruled Feb. 24 sheltering in the park is not allowed under the 1882 Trustee Act. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park cannot be used for sheltering, B.C. Supreme Court rules

City of Victoria asked court to clarify uses of park under 1882 Trustee Act

A couple of tents in Beacon Hill Park in January 2020. The B.C. Supreme Court ruled Feb. 24 sheltering in the park is not allowed under the 1882 Trustee Act. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Conestoga hut is ‘cheap, quick, warm, good bed, in out of the rain, step up from a tent and secure,’ says Krista Loughton of Community Alliance for Sheltering Alternatives. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Saanich hut showcases what shelter could look like

Conestoga huts a potential short-term solution toward housing

The Conestoga hut is ‘cheap, quick, warm, good bed, in out of the rain, step up from a tent and secure,’ says Krista Loughton of Community Alliance for Sheltering Alternatives. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The Sustainable Clothing Project aims to divert clothes that were destined for the landfill and redistribute them to people in the community. (Pixabay)

Sustainable Clothing Project aims to help people, keep clothing out of landfill,

Unsold clothing from thrift stores gets distributed to people and families who need it

The Sustainable Clothing Project aims to divert clothes that were destined for the landfill and redistribute them to people in the community. (Pixabay)
Lisa George, left, and other volunteers with the Grassroots Homelessness Coalition set up the trailer and awning used in their pop-up warming centres in the spare lot beside the Port Alberni Friendship Center in early December 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY GRASSROOTS H. COALITION)

Vancouver Island charity ransacked right down to the soup bowls

More than $5,000 worth of supplies stolen from Alberni’s Grassroots Homelessness Coalition’s trailer

Lisa George, left, and other volunteers with the Grassroots Homelessness Coalition set up the trailer and awning used in their pop-up warming centres in the spare lot beside the Port Alberni Friendship Center in early December 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY GRASSROOTS H. COALITION)
Heavy snow does not meet the criteria for extreme weather shelter operations. Mirror File Photo

Heavy snow not enough to activate Campbell River extreme weather shelter opening

Trigger point for shelter is prolonged temperatures below -5 degrees

Heavy snow does not meet the criteria for extreme weather shelter operations. Mirror File Photo
Downtown Victoria resident Alex is an example of someone who could benefit from a hut on private land, with the ability to lock up his belongings. (Video by Krista Loughton)

Grassroots collective starts with $4,000 goal for 1 hut for 1 unhoused Victoria resident

Community Alliance for Sheltering Alternatives seeking private land to house future huts

Downtown Victoria resident Alex is an example of someone who could benefit from a hut on private land, with the ability to lock up his belongings. (Video by Krista Loughton)
MARS’ Assistant Manager of Wildlife Rehabilitation Kiersten Shylan is a few weeks away from having to move from her home of four years. Photo courtesy Kiersten Shylan

Young Vancouver Island working professional running out of housing options

MARS Wildlife Rehab Manager affected by housing crisis

MARS’ Assistant Manager of Wildlife Rehabilitation Kiersten Shylan is a few weeks away from having to move from her home of four years. Photo courtesy Kiersten Shylan
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney introduces the Right to Housing Bill on Dec. 7. Photo courtesy YouTube

North Island-Powell River MP introduces Right to Housing Bill

Bill would amend Bill of Rights to include right to appropriate and affordable housing

North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney introduces the Right to Housing Bill on Dec. 7. Photo courtesy YouTube
BC Rent Bank helps people stay out of homelessness. Black Press stock photo.

BC Rent Bank sees daily applications triple in first day after province-wide roll out

Microloan program available in all areas of province

BC Rent Bank helps people stay out of homelessness. Black Press stock photo.
File photo

Campbell River group needs help finding Emergency Weather Shelter location

Shelter funding starts in November, but Coalition to End Homelessness still needs to find a location

File photo
B.C. has the highest rate of evictions in the country according to a new UBC study. File Photo

More than 10 per cent of renters in B.C. report being evicted

Province has highest rate of eviction in Canada — study

B.C. has the highest rate of evictions in the country according to a new UBC study. File Photo
50 new self-isolation pods, like the ones used at the old Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre shelter, will be available to Victoria’s unhoused, COVID-positive population by early November. (Courtesy of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)

50 new isolation pods coming for Victoria’s unhoused, COVID-positive population

300 unhoused people, shelter staff have had COVID-19 since pandemic start, Island Health says

50 new self-isolation pods, like the ones used at the old Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre shelter, will be available to Victoria’s unhoused, COVID-positive population by early November. (Courtesy of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)
Victoria city staff estimate the cost of staff, materials and consulting services for restoring city parks following temporary sheltering to be $535,000. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria city staff slap $500,000 price tag on post-sheltering park restoration

Restoration in such parks as Beacon Hill, Topaz, Cecilia Ravine expected to take until 2024: report

Victoria city staff estimate the cost of staff, materials and consulting services for restoring city parks following temporary sheltering to be $535,000. (Black Press Media file photo)