Homelessness

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)
Spectators watch the waves at Ogden Point in Victoria during a recent wind storm. With heavy winds expected Friday night, the Salvation Army’s ARC in downtown Victoria will have additional overnight mats available. (Black Press Media file photo)

Extra overnight mats open to Victoria’s homeless, with heavy winds expected Friday

Wind gusts up to 80 km/h forecast for Friday night, into Saturday this weekend

Spectators watch the waves at Ogden Point in Victoria during a recent wind storm. With heavy winds expected Friday night, the Salvation Army’s ARC in downtown Victoria will have additional overnight mats available. (Black Press Media file photo)
Nanaimo children’s author Lois Peterson’s latest book is ‘Shelter: Homelessness in our Community.’ (Photo courtesy Louroo Photography)

Vancouver Island author pens children’s book on homelessness

Nanaimo’s Lois Peterson to bring latest book ‘Shelter’ on virtual classroom tour

Nanaimo children’s author Lois Peterson’s latest book is ‘Shelter: Homelessness in our Community.’ (Photo courtesy Louroo Photography)
Victoria will now provide daytime warming centres for those experiencing homelessness, during extreme weather events this winter. Victoria’s homeless population struggles with the winter weather in this photo taken in January 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Daytime warming centres to now open for Victoria homeless during emergency weather events

Goal is to prevent death, injury caused from exposure to the harsh elements

Victoria will now provide daytime warming centres for those experiencing homelessness, during extreme weather events this winter. Victoria’s homeless population struggles with the winter weather in this photo taken in January 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sanctuary Youth Centre in Victoria is open weekends for youth at risk. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Victoria sanctuary offers youth safe, dry space and room to build relationships

Sanctuary Youth Centre open to youth at risk Fridays through Sundays

The Sanctuary Youth Centre in Victoria is open weekends for youth at risk. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Island Health says tents are a far cry from a proper isolation space. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health confirms positive COVID-19 cases among community facing homelessness

Call for the return of proper isolation spaces in hotels and shelters

Island Health says tents are a far cry from a proper isolation space. (Black Press Media file photo)
Regional Chief Terry Teegee speaks to the press after Premier John Horgan announced Indigenous human rights will be recognized in B.C. with new legislation during a press conference at the provincial Legislature in Victoria on October 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Prince George bylaw targeting homeless people ‘scapegoats’ the poor, says expert

Municipality criticized for using harsh regulations to force street people from public spaces

Regional Chief Terry Teegee speaks to the press after Premier John Horgan announced Indigenous human rights will be recognized in B.C. with new legislation during a press conference at the provincial Legislature in Victoria on October 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Our Place Society has seen increased non-compliance towards mask wearing and more violent incidents in the area, amid a backdrop of higher numbers of COVID cases within the community that uses its drop-in centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Our Place Society in Victoria sends strong message by closing drop-in centre for a day

CEO cites need to ‘regroup’ amid rising levels of COVID, mask non-compliance and violent incidents

Our Place Society has seen increased non-compliance towards mask wearing and more violent incidents in the area, amid a backdrop of higher numbers of COVID cases within the community that uses its drop-in centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke is getting some assistance from senior government to help local service organizations better support vulnerable people. (Pixabay.com)

Sooke receives new funding to support vulnerable people

Local groups receive $413,412 in joint provincial and federal funding

Sooke is getting some assistance from senior government to help local service organizations better support vulnerable people. (Pixabay.com)
The B.C. government announced $4.7 million in funding for Victoria initiatives that aim to address homelessness, with one of the largest allocated amounts going towards bylaw and reimbursing added police shifts. (Black Press Media file photo)

Homelessness grant will see City of Victoria reimbursed for added police shifts

B.C. announces $4.7 million for Victoria programs aimed at addressing impact of homelessness

The B.C. government announced $4.7 million in funding for Victoria initiatives that aim to address homelessness, with one of the largest allocated amounts going towards bylaw and reimbursing added police shifts. (Black Press Media file photo)
Staff unload donations of bottled water that will be handed out to Chilliwack’s homeless community. Our Place in Victoria is seeking public donations of reusable water bottles to supply the city’s homeless population. (Black Press Media file photo)

Our Place Society seeks donations of reusable water bottles during heat wave

Those experiencing homelessness in downtown Victoria are at special risk in warmer weather

Staff unload donations of bottled water that will be handed out to Chilliwack’s homeless community. Our Place in Victoria is seeking public donations of reusable water bottles to supply the city’s homeless population. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Alina Turner, president and co-founder of HelpSeeker Technologies, who is taking part in a federally funded project designed to predict what will happen to homelessness, suicide and domestic violence rates, is pictured at the company's office in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 23, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Where will homelessness rise or fall? A federally funded AI has some predictions

Helpseeker says numbers should help policy-makers decide on where to put resources

Dr. Alina Turner, president and co-founder of HelpSeeker Technologies, who is taking part in a federally funded project designed to predict what will happen to homelessness, suicide and domestic violence rates, is pictured at the company's office in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 23, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A Nanaimo man, experiencing homelessness, sustained serious injuries after he was intentionally run over with a vehicle, and his daughter is setting up a trust fund to help with his recovery. (GoFundMe image)

Fundraiser benefits man experiencing homelessness who was purposely struck by motorist in Nanaimo

Daughter creating a trust fund to help her father as he recovers

A Nanaimo man, experiencing homelessness, sustained serious injuries after he was intentionally run over with a vehicle, and his daughter is setting up a trust fund to help with his recovery. (GoFundMe image)
The Tiny Home Village, at 940 Caledonia Ave., is set to welcome 30 residents starting May 12. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

No influx of animals as people move from parks to housing in Victoria: BC SPCA

Our Place Society says the bulk of its housing sites allows for pets, with rules

The Tiny Home Village, at 940 Caledonia Ave., is set to welcome 30 residents starting May 12. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
A motion heading to Victoria council’s committee-of-the-whole this Thursday (June 3) aims to prohibit sheltering in Beacon Hill Park for two years. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria council to consider two-year camping ban in Beacon Hill Park

Motion on June 3 agenda calls for park rehabilitation period in wake of intensive camping

A motion heading to Victoria council’s committee-of-the-whole this Thursday (June 3) aims to prohibit sheltering in Beacon Hill Park for two years. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Victoria Rent Bank has seen an overwhelming need for financial assistance by renters. (Black Press Media file photo)

Funding will allow Greater Victoria Rent Bank to operate until March 2022

More than $300,000 distributed to 200 renters in program’s first 10 weeks

The Greater Victoria Rent Bank has seen an overwhelming need for financial assistance by renters. (Black Press Media file photo)
Individual pods at the new Russell Street shelter. (Grant McKenzie/Our Place)

VIDEO: First 30 campers move into Victoria transitional shelter

Russell Street Transitional Shelter opened Monday to those moving out of city parks

Individual pods at the new Russell Street shelter. (Grant McKenzie/Our Place)
Still from a video posted on social media of a man lighting fireworks next to a homeless person’s encampment in the parking lot at St. Mary’s on Mary Street in Chilliwack. The video was posted on April 21, 2021 but it’s unclear if the incident happened that day. (Facebook)

VIDEO: Man sets off fireworks next to homeless person’s cart in Fraser Valley

No police reports made into incident shared on social media

Still from a video posted on social media of a man lighting fireworks next to a homeless person’s encampment in the parking lot at St. Mary’s on Mary Street in Chilliwack. The video was posted on April 21, 2021 but it’s unclear if the incident happened that day. (Facebook)
Tents stand amongst the trees in Beacon Hill Park. The City of Victoria is inviting anyone interested in participating in its court petition asking whether camping in the park is legal, under the terms of an 1882 trust, to submit a statement by May 7. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria invites public input on Beacon Hill Park sheltering court inquiry

City offers parties with an interest in the outcome to be part of legal proceeding

Tents stand amongst the trees in Beacon Hill Park. The City of Victoria is inviting anyone interested in participating in its court petition asking whether camping in the park is legal, under the terms of an 1882 trust, to submit a statement by May 7. (Black Press Media file photo)
New programs and services aimed at helping the unhoused find shelter or housing in Victoria, and to take advantage of support services of various kinds, could be funded if a City of Victoria grant application is successful. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria seeks $3M to $4M in grant funds to enhance community services for unhoused population

Various supports, services for unhoused population part of broad-based funding application

New programs and services aimed at helping the unhoused find shelter or housing in Victoria, and to take advantage of support services of various kinds, could be funded if a City of Victoria grant application is successful. (Black Press Media file photo)
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