Homeless

Khristina (last name withheld), seen here at Salish Park on Jan. 18, 2023, from Saskatchewan comes to Chilliwack twice a year to find her son who is living on the streets, and to hand out supplies to homeless people. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

Saskatchewan cattle rancher visits Fraser Valley twice a year to find her homeless son

‘I spent time with him, and that has to be enough’

 

Volunteer Kaya Dunk rings the bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign during Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay Light-Up festivities on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Salvation Army reports ‘staggering’ number of first-time Vancouver Island holiday users

Staffing continues to be an issue for organization as it works to support the less-fortunate

 

A person hails a taxi as heavy snow falls in downtown Vancouver, late Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver and the south coast of B.C. with 10 to 20 centimetres of snow expected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. snowfall no winter wonderland for Vancouver’s poor and homeless, says advocate

Those living in tents face dangers ranging from hypothermia to risks of using candles or heaters

 

British Columbia’s new Housing Ministry says the province is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 90 modular housing units in two locations with round-the-clock supports for people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. A temporary modular housing suite is visited by the public while on display in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

B.C., Vancouver partner to build modular housing in strategy to disperse street camps

Temporary homes will serve as a ‘bridge’ for people, David Eby says

British Columbia’s new Housing Ministry says the province is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 90 modular housing units in two locations with round-the-clock supports for people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. A temporary modular housing suite is visited by the public while on display in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
Black Press Media file photo

Homelessness in Kelowna tripled in size in the last year: Bylaw

The cleaning of ‘Tent City’ required a backhoe, a dump truck, and about 20 RCMP and bylaw officers

Black Press Media file photo
FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

75% spike: 247 people experiencing homelessness died in 2021 in B.C.

Increase in lives lost fuelled by the ongoing toxic drug poisonings

FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Judicial review sought of fire order to remove tents off Vancouver street

Petition argues fire chief made order without procedural fairness to those living on Hastings Street

A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)

UPDATE: Charges laid after man dragged through encampment by truck

Driver arrested; Victim taken to hospital with serious injuries

A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)
Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna’s vulnerable want to shelter from heat wave, but bylaw requires they move

Bylaw requires residents of homeless encampment to pack-up and leave each morning

Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Bob Galligan holds pictures of his daughter and grandchildren. File photo

Remembering Bob: Face of Comox Valley’s unhoused population dies

Bob Galligan, whose comeback from a hard life made him somewhat of an Island icon, dead at 64

Bob Galligan holds pictures of his daughter and grandchildren. File photo
Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Charging e-bike battery explodes, sets fire to Vancouver Island building

RCMP took e-biker into custody, after blaze at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Manager of H.E.L.P. Team Boyle Street Community Services Doug Cooke, right, and outreach and support services manager Jared Tkachuk, left, check on a homeless person’s well-being in Edmonton on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

‘Peril or promise’: Long-term solution needed to help homeless in Alberta cities

Homeless shelters are near capacity but open their doors to all when temperatures become unbearable

Manager of H.E.L.P. Team Boyle Street Community Services Doug Cooke, right, and outreach and support services manager Jared Tkachuk, left, check on a homeless person’s well-being in Edmonton on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Victory Church homeless shelter had the highest calls for police service above everywhere else, at 290 calls for service, in the first three months of the year. (Jesse Day Western News)

Penticton drops lawsuit against BC Housing; new shelter proposed

A new shelter will go beside Compass Court and Victory Church shelter will close spring 2022

Victory Church homeless shelter had the highest calls for police service above everywhere else, at 290 calls for service, in the first three months of the year. (Jesse Day Western News)
(Black Press file)

Judge reserves decision on Prince George homeless camps

Advocates want resolution as cold weather season approaches

(Black Press file)
BC Housing minister David Eby. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Eby jabs back against Penticton mayor’s ad urging BC Premier to intervene in shelter dispute

Eby writes that Penticton’s ‘serious’ social issues won’t improve under leadership of the mayor

BC Housing minister David Eby. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
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’

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)
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)
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
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