Homelessness

Mark Braunagel fills the back seat of his truck with backpacks and bags full of supplies the Grade 9 leadership class at ADSS collected for some of Port Alberni’s vulnerable people. (Jan. 15, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Alberni high school students fill backpacks to help city’s homeless

Junior leadership students embraced service project, said teacher Mike Roberts

 

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

 

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

 

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)
People experiencing homelessness in Bowen Park last week. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Task force presents $65.5-million action plan to address homelessness in Nanaimo

Draft action plan calls for 635 new program and housing spaces over five years

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)
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)
Shea Smith is one of three creators of The Homeless Idea podcast. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Victoria podcasters talk homelessness first-hand

Three homeless residents created The Homeless Idea to give themselves a voice

Shea Smith is one of three creators of The Homeless Idea podcast. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Police in Nanaimo never know what they’ll encounter when called upon to check on the well-being of people. (News Bulletin file photo)

A few weeks in the life of the wellness of a community

Nanaimo RCMP find heart-breaks and smiles during a sampling of recent wellness checks

Police in Nanaimo never know what they’ll encounter when called upon to check on the well-being of people. (News Bulletin file photo)
Nurse Doreen Littlejohn takes a longterm approach in her outreach work with homelessness in Parksville Qualicum Beach, but says more needs to be done now. (Auren Ruvinsky photo)

‘Women face a much different experience on the street’

Vancouver Island nurse says community needs to be part of solution to homelessness

Nurse Doreen Littlejohn takes a longterm approach in her outreach work with homelessness in Parksville Qualicum Beach, but says more needs to be done now. (Auren Ruvinsky photo)
Mail service that was previously suspended due to safety concerns over a homeless encampment on Quinsam Road has been resumed. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror

Tent city gone, mail service resumes for Campbell River neighbourhood

Canada Post suspended service due to safety concerns surrounding homeless encampment

Mail service that was previously suspended due to safety concerns over a homeless encampment on Quinsam Road has been resumed. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror
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)
In March 2020, more than 1,500 people were homeless in Victoria, according to a survey by the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. (Black Press Media file photo)

Housing, homelessness and affordability top concerns in Greater Victoria: Vital Signs report

2020 report sees drop in ratings for housing, newcomer opportunities

In March 2020, more than 1,500 people were homeless in Victoria, according to a survey by the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. (Black Press Media file photo)
Two Victoria councillors are bringing a motion to Thursday’s meeting in hopes of securing funding for free transit fare for Victoria’s unhoused community. (Black Press Media file photo)

Councillors seek free transit for Victoria’s homeless

Motion comes to council on Thursday

Two Victoria councillors are bringing a motion to Thursday’s meeting in hopes of securing funding for free transit fare for Victoria’s unhoused community. (Black Press Media file photo)
A community tent in Beacon Hill Park was set up in order to provide a safe, dry place for people who are living outside. (Facebook/Beverley Joy)

Beacon Hill Park’s unhoused install community tent as Victoria weather turns wet

Organizers say dry, safe place needed to replace unavailable shelter space

A community tent in Beacon Hill Park was set up in order to provide a safe, dry place for people who are living outside. (Facebook/Beverley Joy)
Graham Hughes, front, who ran as an independent candidate in the B.C. provincial election, sits with half a dozen supporters in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter, where Hughes is protesting the way homelessness has been dealt with in Port Alberni, on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Protesters occupy Port Alberni’s shelter

Former election candidate leads sit-in outside to protest homelessness

Graham Hughes, front, who ran as an independent candidate in the B.C. provincial election, sits with half a dozen supporters in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter, where Hughes is protesting the way homelessness has been dealt with in Port Alberni, on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Campbell River RCMP. RCMP photo

RCMP investigating trailer fire at Campbell River homeless camp

No one injured as a result of the fire

Campbell River RCMP. RCMP photo
Steve at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Parksville, which played an important role in his accessing other services in the area. (Auren Ruvinsky photo)

Homelessness in Parksville Qualicum Beach: Don’t assume anything

Oct. 11-17 is Homelessness Action Week

Steve at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Parksville, which played an important role in his accessing other services in the area. (Auren Ruvinsky 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)