Homelessness

People living in Victoria encampments will be offered indoor shelter by May 1, according to the City of Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria’s daytime park camping prohibition back in effect May 1

BC Housing, city, set new goal of sheltering all encampment residents by May 1

People living in Victoria encampments will be offered indoor shelter by May 1, according to the City of Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
A homeless camp on the outskirts of Victoria. The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness thinks ending homelessness is 'within reach.' (Victoria News)

Victoria, province won’t meet March 31 goal of sheltering encampment residents

Goal to house those living in parks delayed to the end of April

  • Mar 11, 2021
A homeless camp on the outskirts of Victoria. The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness thinks ending homelessness is 'within reach.' (Victoria News)
The Sooke homeless shelter, located at 2197 Otter Point Rd, is the only shelter on the West Shore. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke homelessness report highlights lack of services in rural communities

Lease for the West Shore homeless shelter up at end of March

The Sooke homeless shelter, located at 2197 Otter Point Rd, is the only shelter on the West Shore. (Black Press Media file photo)
On Feb. 27, a construction vehicle remained on the site of the former encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue as part a clean-up effort. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Encampment between Pat Bay Highway, McKenzie Avenue cleared, all residents relocated

Efforts to disband encampment resumed after January fire

On Feb. 27, a construction vehicle remained on the site of the former encampment between the Pat Bay Highway and McKenzie Avenue as part a clean-up effort. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has reopened with 45 shelter spots for people experiencing homelessness in Victoria. (Courtesy of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)

Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre shelter in Victoria reopens with spots for 45 people

Arena is an interim step until long-term housing is found

The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has reopened with 45 shelter spots for people experiencing homelessness in Victoria. (Courtesy of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)
The challenging rental accommodation market in Greater Victoria, combined with the effects of the pandemic, leaves some renters on the edge of losing stable housing. A new rent bank program aims to help provide a buffer for those facing short-term cash flow shortages. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)

Financial help on its way for at-risk Greater Victoria renters

Community Social Planning Council leads way on program offering interest-free, short-term loans

The challenging rental accommodation market in Greater Victoria, combined with the effects of the pandemic, leaves some renters on the edge of losing stable housing. A new rent bank program aims to help provide a buffer for those facing short-term cash flow shortages. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)
Wendy Stone, coat drive co-ordinator for the Victoria Cool Aid Society, accepts a blanket from Gordy Dodd of Dodd’s Furniture. The Finlayson Street store donated 30 new blankets to the society for distribution and is a drop-off point for public donations of warm unused outerwear through Feb. 28. (Courtesy Dodd’s Furniture)

Victoria Cool Aid Society works to keep people warm and sheltered during cold snap

Shelter accepts donated tarps, tents and sleeping bags, opens up 15 temporary shelter mats

Wendy Stone, coat drive co-ordinator for the Victoria Cool Aid Society, accepts a blanket from Gordy Dodd of Dodd’s Furniture. The Finlayson Street store donated 30 new blankets to the society for distribution and is a drop-off point for public donations of warm unused outerwear through Feb. 28. (Courtesy Dodd’s Furniture)
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

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)
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)
The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will once again be transformed into temporary sheltering for 45 individuals starting in March. (Courtesy of the B.C. Government)

Temporary shelter to resume at Victoria Save-On-Foods arena in March

BC Housing signed lease with GSL Group from Feb. 1 to May 30

The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre will once again be transformed into temporary sheltering for 45 individuals starting in March. (Courtesy of the B.C. Government)
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)
Victoria moved Thursday toward a possible permanent closure of Central Park to 24/7 sheltering. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria council moves to adjust camping in parks bylaw

Safety, comfort of those sheltering in parks considered, as well as mitigating effects of camping

Victoria moved Thursday toward a possible permanent closure of Central Park to 24/7 sheltering. (Black Press Media file photo)
Tarpaulin-covered tents sit next to one of the ponds in Beacon Hill Park. The location of the Meegan community care tent has still not been nailed down, as Victoria council rejected the recommendation offered by city staff. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Location of care tent for Victoria’s Beacon Hill campers still not settled

Council roundly rejects Avalon Road site, road’s edge on Cook Street appears the top alternative

Tarpaulin-covered tents sit next to one of the ponds in Beacon Hill Park. The location of the Meegan community care tent has still not been nailed down, as Victoria council rejected the recommendation offered by city staff. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Rendering shows murals decorating the proposed tiny home community in the Caledonia/Vancouver street parking lot next to Royal Athletic Park. (Courtesy Aryze Developments)

Tiny homes project on Victoria parking lot gets boost from council

Shipping container neighbourhood stems from Aryze Development idea

Rendering shows murals decorating the proposed tiny home community in the Caledonia/Vancouver street parking lot next to Royal Athletic Park. (Courtesy Aryze Developments)
Last year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk raised more than $17,000 in Sooke. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)

Coldest Night of the Year walk returns to Sooke for second year

Walk for homeless set for Feb. 22

Last year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk raised more than $17,000 in Sooke. (Facebook - Sooke Shelter Society)
The City of Victoria is closing Central Park for ‘remediation’ on Jan. 4. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria closing Central Park for remediation following campers, wet weather

Park will be closed Jan. 4 until further notice

The City of Victoria is closing Central Park for ‘remediation’ on Jan. 4. (Black Press Media file photo)
Mikko Lindroos is desperate for indoor shelter. Not all those who live in Central Park are in agreement, but Lindroos supports a recent letter from the North Park Neighbourhood Association, calling for immediate temporary shelter space for the park’s homeless community. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

BC Housing moves Central Park campers to pavement after residents call for shelter space

Letter calls for temporary shelter spaces at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Mikko Lindroos is desperate for indoor shelter. Not all those who live in Central Park are in agreement, but Lindroos supports a recent letter from the North Park Neighbourhood Association, calling for immediate temporary shelter space for the park’s homeless community. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
The Wesley Street encampment earlier this fall. (News Bulletin file photo)

‘Disorder, conflict, violence, frequent overdoses’: Why Nanaimo tent city was dismantled

City of Nanaimo says had fire happened at night, the result would have been multiple fatalities

The Wesley Street encampment earlier this fall. (News Bulletin file photo)
A message is written on a door outside a tent at a homeless encampment at Strathcona Park, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Residents of the neighbourhood were used to a few people sleeping overnight in a park before moving on, but they weren’t prepared for an entire village of homeless campers still occupying 400 tents after over three months. They have been demanding the city take action to house campers, especially as concerns have mounted about the spread of COVID-19 among hundreds of people living in tight quarters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Specialist who treated rare disease among homeless wants doctors to be aware of signs

Those four cases this year are the only ones known to have occurred in Canada since the mid-1990s

A message is written on a door outside a tent at a homeless encampment at Strathcona Park, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Residents of the neighbourhood were used to a few people sleeping overnight in a park before moving on, but they weren’t prepared for an entire village of homeless campers still occupying 400 tents after over three months. They have been demanding the city take action to house campers, especially as concerns have mounted about the spread of COVID-19 among hundreds of people living in tight quarters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The public will start to weigh in next month on the possible future uses of Oak Bay Lodge. In the meantime, a request to the province by the City of Victoria to intervene and allow use of at least a portion of the closed facility as temporary shelter space awaits an answer. (Black Press Media file photo)

Oak Bay Lodge redevelopment planning continues, request for temporary use awaits answer

Public consultation on future of CRD-owned site begins next month

The public will start to weigh in next month on the possible future uses of Oak Bay Lodge. In the meantime, a request to the province by the City of Victoria to intervene and allow use of at least a portion of the closed facility as temporary shelter space awaits an answer. (Black Press Media file photo)
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