Homelessness

The cold-weather camp at a Parksville church’s parking lot, that was set up Feb. 15, was disassembled and asked to relocate by the church on Feb. 18. (Mandy Moraes photo)

B.C. Housing announces eight-bed winter shelter now available in Parksville

Makeshift cold-weather camp has been disbanded

 

Smoke billows from under the Pearson Bridge on Terminal Avenue in Nanaimo after a propane tank ignited and started a fire in a shelter in a homeless encampment under the bridge on fire Wednesday, Feb. 17. (Photo courtesy Chris Jeffs)

Propane tank mishap burns homeless shelter under a bridge in Nanaimo

No known injuries or damage to the bridge after fire Wednesday, Feb. 17

 

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

 

Workers delivered the first wooden cabins last month to replace the tents at a tent site for people experiencing homelessness in the Cowichan Valley. (Black Press file photo)

City of Nanaimo looking at setting up tiny cabins for people experiencing homelessness

Council asks for staff report after learning about Cowichan’s emergency accommodation program

Workers delivered the first wooden cabins last month to replace the tents at a tent site for people experiencing homelessness in the Cowichan Valley. (Black Press file photo)
Regional District of Nanaimo directors approved a motion last week to write to the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions asking “adequate levels of treatment, recovery, detox and after-care facilities,” among other requests. (News Bulletin file)

Regional District of Nanaimo asking for addictions and detox help from B.C. government

More than supportive housing is needed to tackle homelessness crisis, say RDN directors

Regional District of Nanaimo directors approved a motion last week to write to the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions asking “adequate levels of treatment, recovery, detox and after-care facilities,” among other requests. (News Bulletin file)
The Coldest Night of the Year walk will be a little different in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, taking place throughout the month of February. Violet Hayes, Island Crisis Care Society executive director, Richard Powell, director of development and Elspeth Erickson, resource development coordinator hope people will participate. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo’s Coldest Night of the Year walk will take place over a month

People asked to take part in Island Crisis Care Society fundraiser while socially distanced

The Coldest Night of the Year walk will be a little different in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, taking place throughout the month of February. Violet Hayes, Island Crisis Care Society executive director, Richard Powell, director of development and Elspeth Erickson, resource development coordinator hope people will participate. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
The City of Nanaimo’s Community Services Building at 285 Prideaux St., where the 7-10 Club is located, will host a warming centre seven days a week through March 31. (City of Nanaimo photo)

Warming centres for people experiencing homelessness open today in Nanaimo

City of Nanaimo and social agencies partnering on Wallace and Prideaux locations

The City of Nanaimo’s Community Services Building at 285 Prideaux St., where the 7-10 Club is located, will host a warming centre seven days a week through March 31. (City of Nanaimo photo)
The Wesley Street encampment earlier this fall. (News Bulletin file photo)

‘Unsafe and unlawful:’ City of Nanaimo report says Wesley Street camp was no longer sustainable

Bylaws report describes ‘disorder, conflict, violence, frequent overdoses’ at homeless camp

The Wesley Street encampment earlier this fall. (News Bulletin file photo)
People experiencing homelessness in Bowen Park last week. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo’s health and housing task force presents action plan to address homelessness

Draft action plan calls for 635 new program and housing spaces at a cost of $65.5 million

People experiencing homelessness in Bowen Park last week. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Protesters including Mercedes Courtoreille march to Nanaimo City Hall following a rally Tuesday at Maffeo Sutton Park by the Wesley Warriors, a group of former residents of the Wesley Strip homeless encampment that was dismantled after a fire in the camp destroyed several tents. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

‘Wesley Warriors’ criticize City of Nanaimo for bulldozing camp

Former occupants of the Wesley Street encampment and advocates hold rally and march

Protesters including Mercedes Courtoreille march to Nanaimo City Hall following a rally Tuesday at Maffeo Sutton Park by the Wesley Warriors, a group of former residents of the Wesley Strip homeless encampment that was dismantled after a fire in the camp destroyed several tents. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Emergency personnel and city officials at the scene of a fire on Wesley Street last Thursday. Nanaimo city council members were asked about housing and homelessness spending at a town hall meeting Monday. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo citizens ask about housing and homelessness at budget-focused town hall meeting

E-town hall meeting was held Monday as public engagement component of financial planning process

Emergency personnel and city officials at the scene of a fire on Wesley Street last Thursday. Nanaimo city council members were asked about housing and homelessness spending at a town hall meeting Monday. (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
Police escorted residents of a homeless encampment on Wesley Street to and from the site to collect their belongings Thursday and Friday following a fire that destroyed several tents and ignited a number of propane tanks. The encampment has been permanently cleared and its residents dispersed. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Occupants of Nanaimo’s Wesley Street encampment offered support following fire and displacement

City of Nanaimo permanently clears homeless camp over ongoing safety concerns

Police escorted residents of a homeless encampment on Wesley Street to and from the site to collect their belongings Thursday and Friday following a fire that destroyed several tents and ignited a number of propane tanks. The encampment has been permanently cleared and its residents dispersed. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Police in Nanaimo never know what they’ll encounter when called upon to check on the well-being of people. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo RCMP find ‘heart-breaking’ circumstances during wellness checks

Police offer sampling of outcomes from well-being checks over recent weeks

Police in Nanaimo never know what they’ll encounter when called upon to check on the well-being of people. (News Bulletin file photo)
Const. Joshua Waltman, who worked with people experiencing homelessness on the Whalley strip in Surrey, is Nanaimo RCMP detachment’s new mental health liaison officer. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo RCMP detachment selects new mental health liaison officer

Const. Josh Waltman hopes to connect with high-risk individuals

Const. Joshua Waltman, who worked with people experiencing homelessness on the Whalley strip in Surrey, is Nanaimo RCMP detachment’s new mental health liaison officer. (Photo submitted)
A sign posted by the City of Parksville which details the intent to clean Mark’s Nature Park on Nov. 9. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Campers in Parksville nature park cleared out by bylaw officials

Notice given six days in advance

A sign posted by the City of Parksville which details the intent to clean Mark’s Nature Park on Nov. 9. (Mandy Moraes photo)
A point-in-time count tallied 433 people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file photo)

Homelessness count gives City of Nanaimo clearer picture of the issue

Agencies involved with this year’s point-in-time count present data to city council

A point-in-time count tallied 433 people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file photo)
Tents on Wesley Street in Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file photo)

Province wants to work with Nanaimo on 60-bed ‘navigation centre’ shelter

City council expressed interest in the idea in late August

Tents on Wesley Street in Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file photo)
Nanaimo city council, at a meeting Monday, voted to write a letter to the province expressing interest in being a site for a navigation centre for people experiencing homelessness. (News Bulletin file photo)

City of Nanaimo expresses interest in supportive shelter for people experiencing homelessness

Provincial government looking for Vancouver Island location for 60-bed navigation centre

Nanaimo city council, at a meeting Monday, voted to write a letter to the province expressing interest in being a site for a navigation centre for people experiencing homelessness. (News Bulletin file photo)
A man walks through a homeless camp where approximately 150 people are living at a parking lot on Port of Vancouver property adjacent to Crab Park, in Vancouver on June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. announces creation of first-ever ‘navigation centre’ to help homeless

Residents referred to the navigation centre will be able to stay until longer-term housing is available

A man walks through a homeless camp where approximately 150 people are living at a parking lot on Port of Vancouver property adjacent to Crab Park, in Vancouver on June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck