Housing crisis

Brianne Guss standing with her father Tony Guss who had his leg amputated after finding out he had flesh-eating disease. (Courtesy of Brianne Guss)

Langford amputee struggles to find affordable ‘wheelchair friendly’ housing

The 59-year-old has been at the hospital since he found out he had a life-threatening infection

 

Adam Irwin-Gunn stands in front of the Christ Church Cathedral in his neighbourhood. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

‘Gong show’: Victoria neighbours fear impact of church’s mega-housing proposal

‘They’re trying to dominate a historical building like the architecture of this cathedral’

 

The housing crisis gripping the country is having a profound effect on the justice system, speeding up the well-established carousel between homelessness and incarceration, according to people who work with incarcerated people. Inmates in provincial institutions are already released with few supports in place, said Ontario lawyer Beth Bromberg.

Amid housing crisis, decrepit N.L. jail seen as preferable to living on the street

In B.C., a non-profit picks up inmates when they’re released and helps them find shelter, food

 

Lake Cowichan town councillor Lorna Vomacka wants the town to consider renting out campsites at its Lakeview Park Campsite during the offseason on a monthly basis to help deal with the housing crisis. (Lake Cowichan photo)

Housing crisis brought home to Lake Cowichan’s council

One family living in RV say they are out of options

Lake Cowichan town councillor Lorna Vomacka wants the town to consider renting out campsites at its Lakeview Park Campsite during the offseason on a monthly basis to help deal with the housing crisis. (Lake Cowichan photo)
A petition to allow a Vernon family to live on a farm in a fifth wheel has garnered 4,121 signatures as of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (change.org photo)

Petitioners rally for B.C. family living ‘unlawfully’ in RV on family farm

A petition for the city to allow the family to live in a fifth wheel on a family farm has eclipsed 4,000 signatures

A petition to allow a Vernon family to live on a farm in a fifth wheel has garnered 4,121 signatures as of Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (change.org photo)
Anurag Sharma’s legal non-conforming unit in the Janion in Victoria. The size of the condo is around 290 square feet. (Photo courtesy of Anurag Sharma)

‘Very hurt’: New Airbnb restrictions spark backlash from B.C. landlords

Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act will force landlords out of the market, some say

Anurag Sharma’s legal non-conforming unit in the Janion in Victoria. The size of the condo is around 290 square feet. (Photo courtesy of Anurag Sharma)
Victoria rents are not immune from the rising housing costs that have been occurring across the country. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

New study challenges assumptions that Airbnb greatly impacts Canadian rents

A Conference Board of Canada study says that Airbnb activity has little impact on rent prices

Victoria rents are not immune from the rising housing costs that have been occurring across the country. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
North Cowichan councillor Chris Istace says the municipality should consider cracking down on Airbnbs that are operating with out business licences in its jurisdiction. (Citizen file photo)

Councillor floats cracking down on unlicensed Airbnbs in North Cowichan

Fines could be as much as $1,500 per day

North Cowichan councillor Chris Istace says the municipality should consider cracking down on Airbnbs that are operating with out business licences in its jurisdiction. (Citizen file photo)
North Island College is asking people to open their homes to students for the coming school year. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

NIC asks people to open their homes to students this year

College partnering with Places 4 Students to alleviate housing pressures

North Island College is asking people to open their homes to students for the coming school year. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, seen in this 2021 photo, will be tabling legislation in the fall that will address housing being converted into short-term rentals and could require platforms to be more transparent with local governments. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. housing minister tight-lipped on looming short-term rental regulations

Ravi Kahlon has concerns with the industry as he says it’s taking up too much housing stock

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, seen in this 2021 photo, will be tabling legislation in the fall that will address housing being converted into short-term rentals and could require platforms to be more transparent with local governments. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales arrive for the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Friday, June 23, 2023.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Prince William launches 5-year project to end long-term homelessness in the UK

Prince William launched a five-year project to end long-term homelessness in the…

Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales arrive for the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Friday, June 23, 2023.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Crews work outside a multi-unit build in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)

The demise of single-family starter homes: ‘Municipalities have to have their hands forced’

Local policies not geared towards multi-unit builds warns advocate

Crews work outside a multi-unit build in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)
Homes under construction in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)

The demise of single-family starter homes: Residents driven out of Greater Victoria for decades

‘It’s going to take us a long time to build out of this in a meaningful way’

Homes under construction in the Royal Bay development in Colwood. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)
A row of single-family homes under construction in Colwood's Royal Bay development. The listing at 3376 Ryder Hesjedal Way starts at $1,047,134. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)

The demise of single-family starter homes: What it takes to buy in Greater Victoria

Young adults will need to save for 22 years for a down payment, have a household income of $216K

A row of single-family homes under construction in Colwood's Royal Bay development. The listing at 3376 Ryder Hesjedal Way starts at $1,047,134. (Katherine Engqvist/News Staff)
Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock outside two 11-unit purpose-built rental buildings on Richmond Road near Royal Jubilee Hospital. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Saanich endorses zone allowing small apartment buildings on single-family lots

Staff report indicates district needs more than 1,200 new bachelor, one-bedroom units by 2025

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock outside two 11-unit purpose-built rental buildings on Richmond Road near Royal Jubilee Hospital. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
John Horn, executive director of Connective, shows Lisa Marie Barron, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, a newly opened seniors independent living building on Labieux Road near Diver Lake on April 13. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Federal NDP calling for funding for non-profits to be able to buy and rent out apartments

New Democrats want federal government to ‘get back into housing’

John Horn, executive director of Connective, shows Lisa Marie Barron, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, a newly opened seniors independent living building on Labieux Road near Diver Lake on April 13. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Cowichan Valley Regional District chair Aaron Stone said finding housing for workers in the region is getting more difficult. (File photo)

Cowichan businesses hurting from housing crisis, survey concludes

Survey first step in development of workforce housing strategy

Cowichan Valley Regional District chair Aaron Stone said finding housing for workers in the region is getting more difficult. (File photo)
Coachman Apartments tenant Vivian Wright shows black mould covering the ceiling of her shower. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/terrace Standard)

Mould endangers 60 tenants of rundown B.C. building: BCCDC report

BC Centre for Disease Control finds dilapidated northwest B.C. building unsafe to live in

Coachman Apartments tenant Vivian Wright shows black mould covering the ceiling of her shower. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/terrace Standard)
Sean Babchuk holds up a painting that he can finally hang in his new home. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

New Habitat for Humanity home is ‘quite the weight’ off owner’s shoulders

‘Now I can hang that picture on the wall’ — Sean Babchuk

Sean Babchuk holds up a painting that he can finally hang in his new home. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
The City of Victoria has adopted its missing middle housing initiative, which aims to boost the supply of multi-unit homes falling between single-family homes and apartments. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)

Victoria adopts its missing middle housing initiative in bid to retain residents

Aims to boost supply of multi-unit homes falling between single-family homes and apartments

The City of Victoria has adopted its missing middle housing initiative, which aims to boost the supply of multi-unit homes falling between single-family homes and apartments. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)