Housing and Homelessness

Trailside welcomes its first residents May 15, 2024 into the transitional housing facility on Highway 97 N in Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

VIDEO: Transitional housing units open for seniors in Kelowna

Trailside will help residents reach the goal of stable housing

  • May 14, 2024

 

Shelter workers for people experiencing homelessness in Surrey are happy to see a new service open at Surrey Memorial Hospital that offers a transition for people who were seeking medical care who also have housing troubles, but advocates say the program needs to be expanded to make a real difference. (K-J Millar file photo)

From hospital to homeless: B.C. man’s experience part of larger trend

Surrey Memorial Hospital providing motel service for ‘vulnerable’ but more beds needed, say advocates

 

A man is seen inside his tent as vancouver police officers stand by while city workers clear an encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Vancouver police officers have been deployed to a tent encampment on the city’s Downtown Eastside with the aim of shutting down the site to campers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Probe to examine if police hindered media during Vancouver decampment

Police oversight agency says VPD appears to have created ‘exclusion zone,’ but department denies doing so

 

North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold (left) and colleague, MP Michelle Fererri of Peterborough-Kawartha (Ontario) meet with media in Vernon Friday, Aug. 11, at the Schubert Centre. Fererri is the shadow cabinet critic for families, children and social development. She and Arnold spent two hours listening to concerns in the riding from invited stakeholders. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Canada abound in crises: Ontario MP during Vernon visit

Michelle Ferreri is a Conservative shadow cabinet critic for families, children and social development

North Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP Mel Arnold (left) and colleague, MP Michelle Fererri of Peterborough-Kawartha (Ontario) meet with media in Vernon Friday, Aug. 11, at the Schubert Centre. Fererri is the shadow cabinet critic for families, children and social development. She and Arnold spent two hours listening to concerns in the riding from invited stakeholders. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Housing emerged as the one of the top issues during recent provincial budget consultations. Other top of mind issues include health care, the environment but also regulatory reform and labour shortages, according to the final report from the legislative committee that had toured the province earlier this year. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Housing, health care, climate should be central to B.C.’s next budget: report

Final report from provincial finance committee released after extensive public consultation

Housing emerged as the one of the top issues during recent provincial budget consultations. Other top of mind issues include health care, the environment but also regulatory reform and labour shortages, according to the final report from the legislative committee that had toured the province earlier this year. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales arrive for the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Friday, June 23, 2023.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Prince William launches 5-year project to end long-term homelessness in the UK

Prince William launched a five-year project to end long-term homelessness in the…

Britain's Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales arrive for the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Friday, June 23, 2023.(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Kelowna’s tent city garnered national attention after twee by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Poilievre’s depiction of Kelowna’s tent city ‘disappointing’, says safety director

‘This issue is one that cities across the province and in fact across the country’

Kelowna’s tent city garnered national attention after twee by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
The provincial government closed several loopholes involving children in 55-plus stratas. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. government closes loopholes around children in 55-plus strata buildings

BC United MLA says government was architect of its own mistakes

The provincial government closed several loopholes involving children in 55-plus stratas. (Black Press Media file photo)
FVRD Chair Jason Lum attending the UBCM Housing Summit on April 4, 2023. (UBCM video screenshot)

B.C. has to find solution for homelessness in rural areas, says regional district chair

‘Make sure it’s not a one-size-fits-all,’ Jason Lum said aboutB.C. plan for encampment teams

FVRD Chair Jason Lum attending the UBCM Housing Summit on April 4, 2023. (UBCM video screenshot)
Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. A 2022-23 survey by Atira Women’s Resource Society suggests unhoused women living in the area have few safe housing options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Sexual violence rampant amid lack of housing options for homeless Vancouver women: survey

50 Downtown Eastside respondents all reported enduring violence, sexual assault

Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. A 2022-23 survey by Atira Women’s Resource Society suggests unhoused women living in the area have few safe housing options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)

His last words were ‘I love you’: Sister mourns brother found dead in northern B.C. tent

Richard Nelson, a Tsimshian and Nisga’a man living on the streets of Terrace, found dead in -20 weather

Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)
Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile  pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell
Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile  pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell
FILE - Premier David Eby announced his plan to create a new ministry solely devoted to housing on Nov. 22, 2022. (Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Eby to create new ministry solely devoted to B.C. housing crisis

Housing currently overseen by attorney general

FILE - Premier David Eby announced his plan to create a new ministry solely devoted to housing on Nov. 22, 2022. (Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
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
Dozens of residents of a Downtown Eastside SRO were displaced Sept. 24 after a fire broke out in someone’s suite. ( Photo credit: Ruth Hartnup/Flickr)

Fire at Vancouver SRO building displaces dozens on Downtown Eastside

No one was injured but building sustained smoke and water damage

Dozens of residents of a Downtown Eastside SRO were displaced Sept. 24 after a fire broke out in someone’s suite. ( Photo credit: Ruth Hartnup/Flickr)
The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tiny home villages as solution to homelessness? 3 B.C. mayors say yes

Sites up and running in Victoria and Duncan, Port Alberni on its way to do the same

The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
A person’s belongings are placed on the street to be moved to storage after his tent was cleared from the sidewalk at a sprawling encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Still no shelter space for majority of those being displaced by tent removal in Downtown Eastside

40 of estimated 200 people displaced from East Hastings have secured a shelter space

A person’s belongings are placed on the street to be moved to storage after his tent was cleared from the sidewalk at a sprawling encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
BC Housing CEO Shayne Ramsey announced his retirement Aug. 2. (BC Housing website)

BC Housing CEO to step away after recent attacks on unhoused people, threats to himself

“I no longer have confidence I can solve the complex problems facing us”

BC Housing CEO Shayne Ramsey announced his retirement Aug. 2. (BC Housing website)
A woman carries a bag of belongings at a homeless camp on a city-owned lot in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Residents living in tents along East Hastings Street have been ordered to leave the area by the evening of July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Tents to be removed from Downtown Eastside despite little-to-no shelter space

Fire chief says order intended to protect, advocates say it does the opposite

A woman carries a bag of belongings at a homeless camp on a city-owned lot in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Residents living in tents along East Hastings Street have been ordered to leave the area by the evening of July 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Protesters pack up their belongings from the Occupy Vancouver site in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on November 21, 2011. On July 25, 2022, Vancouver’s fire chief ordered that all tents and structures be removed from East Hastings Street, citing a fire risk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver fire chief orders tents removed from Downtown Eastside street, citing fire risk

Advocates say removing people’s homes during heat wave is the real safety problem

Protesters pack up their belongings from the Occupy Vancouver site in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on November 21, 2011. On July 25, 2022, Vancouver’s fire chief ordered that all tents and structures be removed from East Hastings Street, citing a fire risk. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck