Homeless

A makeshift cold-weather camp that popped over Family Day long weekend in Parksville, located in the back parking lot of St. Anne’s church. (Mandy Moraes photo)

As snow falls on shelter-less B.C. town, woman builds her own makeshift homeless camp

‘There’s no doors open and these people are literally freezing’

 

Victoria non-profits opened more shelter spaces for those wanting indoor shelter during the ongoing cold snap. (Black Press Media file photo)

More shelter spaces open for Victoria homeless during cold snap

Organizations collaborated, says Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness

 

James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Homeless man says ‘thank you’ to Chilliwack firefighters for building him a shelter

City of Chilliwack received several calls this week from people concerned about James’ safety

 

A social enterprise housing model for youth will put young residents in the driver’s seat of their experience. With a goal to have youth co-design the programs within the housing site. (Photo courtesy the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness)

Victoria youth-led housing project promotes security, opportunity

Programs to be designed by youth experiencing homelessness

A social enterprise housing model for youth will put young residents in the driver’s seat of their experience. With a goal to have youth co-design the programs within the housing site. (Photo courtesy the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness)
Volunteer ‘Bear’ and Anthony Bryan stand outside the new community services tent for unhoused people living in or near Beacon Hill Park. The tent was moved to its new location near Cook Street and Dallas Road on Saturday. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Community services tent returns, in new location near Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park

Homeless services tent installed on Cook Street

Volunteer ‘Bear’ and Anthony Bryan stand outside the new community services tent for unhoused people living in or near Beacon Hill Park. The tent was moved to its new location near Cook Street and Dallas Road on Saturday. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
The staff at Qualitown Thrift Store in Campbell River pose for a photograph. Every second and fourth monday of the month, they will be welcoming homeless people to come and take things that they need from the store. Binny Paul photo

’Ask and you shall receive,’ store says to homeless Vancouver Islanders

Campbell River thrift store offers free shopping for the homeless to deter theft

The staff at Qualitown Thrift Store in Campbell River pose for a photograph. Every second and fourth monday of the month, they will be welcoming homeless people to come and take things that they need from the store. Binny Paul 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 Victoria 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)
Our Place Society is installing outdoor tents that will soon have propane heaters to help provide shelter in the coming winter months. (Courtesy of Grant McKenzie)

Outdoor warming tents installed outside Victoria Our Place Society

COVID-19 protocols will limit number of people allowed in each tent

Our Place Society is installing outdoor tents that will soon have propane heaters to help provide shelter in the coming winter months. (Courtesy of Grant McKenzie)
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)
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)

Councillors seek free transit for Victoria’s homeless

Motion comes to council on Thursday

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)
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)
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)
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)
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)

Ground sweeps, police presence part of back to school plan for Victoria elementary school near Beacon Hill Park

South Park Family School responds to concerns of parents and guardians

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)
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)
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

  • Aug 30, 2020
Aging out of the foster care system and losing supports can lead to youth homelessness, research suggests. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)