Housing and Homelessness

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

 

An unhoused individual’s belongings sheltered by a tent in Pioneer Square on Quadra Street. (Hollie Ferguson/VicNews)

Victoria’s Our Place films daily operations of Dandelion Street Outreach Program

The video shows how the outreach team interacts with more isolated communities that shelter in parks

 

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

 

A lot on Fourth Avenue destined for tiny or pod homes has been cleared, serviced and leveled in anticipation of the structures. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

‘Unexpected’ costs threaten progress of Port Alberni’s tiny home village

Operators have started a GoFundMe to try and raise extra funds

A lot on Fourth Avenue destined for tiny or pod homes has been cleared, serviced and leveled in anticipation of the structures. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
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)
Community safety officer Ron Litzenberger, left, watches as Wally Taylor, Nanaimo bylaws officer, talks with people who have camped along a sidewalk on Victoria Road early Monday, Aug. 15, and asks them to take down the campsite. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Community safety officers set out to build relationships, respect in Nanaimo’s downtown

CSOs now training with program to be fully implemented next month

Community safety officer Ron Litzenberger, left, watches as Wally Taylor, Nanaimo bylaws officer, talks with people who have camped along a sidewalk on Victoria Road early Monday, Aug. 15, and asks them to take down the campsite. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
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)
The Strathcona Regional District has seen housing costs rise faster than income rates. Photo by Marc Kitteringham - Campbell River Mirror

Housing cost vs. income gap means affordability not improving soon: SRD review

‘Dramatic interventions’ from government would help lessen housing pressure — housing consultant

The Strathcona Regional District has seen housing costs rise faster than income rates. Photo by Marc Kitteringham - Campbell River Mirror
At least a dozen trailers are parked on two Fourth Avenue lots owned by Randy Brown. The City of Port Alberni says the trailers are parked illegally and they continue to issue tickets daily to Brown. (June 3, 2022) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni to take court action on illegal RV park housing vulnerable people

Move will come only after people are moved into BC Housing-funded tiny home village project

At least a dozen trailers are parked on two Fourth Avenue lots owned by Randy Brown. The City of Port Alberni says the trailers are parked illegally and they continue to issue tickets daily to Brown. (June 3, 2022) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Cyndi Stevens, executive director of the Port Alberni Friendship Center, stands in front of the future site of Watyaqit Tiny Home Village in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

‘Tiny homes’ secured for vulnerable population in Port Alberni

Temporary development will address homelessness crisis short term, says housing task force

Cyndi Stevens, executive director of the Port Alberni Friendship Center, stands in front of the future site of Watyaqit Tiny Home Village in Port Alberni. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Could matching people needing housing with homes with empty pillows through home sharing help solve Vancouver Island’s housing problem? (pixabay file)

Can Vancouver Island’s empty bedrooms help solve the housing crunch?

40% of Campbell River bedrooms empty, coalition plans to fill them through home sharing

Could matching people needing housing with homes with empty pillows through home sharing help solve Vancouver Island’s housing problem? (pixabay file)
Sue Moen is championing the idea of a YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) group in Campbell River. The Rose Harbour development is an example of the community coming together to show the need for beneficial housing projects. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River group wants to say “Yes in my backyard”

Those interested invited to help educate, advocate and speak for positive housing development

Sue Moen is championing the idea of a YIMBY (Yes in my backyard) group in Campbell River. The Rose Harbour development is an example of the community coming together to show the need for beneficial housing projects. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Captain Michael Ramsay, left, Colin Minions and Delano Lake from Salvation Army, and Shawn McAnerin, operations manager for Kuu-us Crisis Line Society, test the water systems in a new mobile shower unit that will provide a place for people without homes to shower. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Mobile showers hit the road in Port Alberni to give the unhoused a place to clean up

Mobile showers are on loan from the Salvation Army ARC in Victoria

Captain Michael Ramsay, left, Colin Minions and Delano Lake from Salvation Army, and Shawn McAnerin, operations manager for Kuu-us Crisis Line Society, test the water systems in a new mobile shower unit that will provide a place for people without homes to shower. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The first modular units are installed for a BC Housing project at 1176 Yates St. in Victoria. (BC Housing/Facebook)

Workers stack up latest supportive housing project in Victoria

Demolition of dilapidated Yates Street house makes way for about 40 homes

The first modular units are installed for a BC Housing project at 1176 Yates St. in Victoria. (BC Housing/Facebook)
Shawn Decaire from Kwesa Place unveils the “Angel Pod” tiny home concept at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Tiny home pods offer ‘emergency middle ground’ for Campbell River’s unhoused people

Walk With Me Campbell River’s goal is to provide 30 units for people by fall 2022

Shawn Decaire from Kwesa Place unveils the “Angel Pod” tiny home concept at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Agnes Thomas constructs a dream catcher at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Island art gallery opens doors to unhoused community, offering space to be creative

Campbell River program gives participants sense of community

Agnes Thomas constructs a dream catcher at the Campbell River Art Gallery. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
The Connect Warming Centre at 685 Cliffe Ave. has closed for the daytime, but showers and overnight service remain open until March 31. File photo

Courtenay warming centre closing during the day due to funding shortfall

Showers and overnight service will remain open until March 31

The Connect Warming Centre at 685 Cliffe Ave. has closed for the daytime, but showers and overnight service remain open until March 31. File photo
The corner of Quadra and Johnson streets showing the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, which a man camping on a Pandora Street roof climbed to evade police on March 6. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria police detain man after rooftop campsite standoff

Half-a-dozen Victoria police vehicles seen at Quadra and Johnson streets

The corner of Quadra and Johnson streets showing the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, which a man camping on a Pandora Street roof climbed to evade police on March 6. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
A couple of tents in Beacon Hill Park in January 2020. The B.C. Supreme Court ruled Feb. 24 sheltering in the park is not allowed under the 1882 Trustee Act. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park cannot be used for sheltering, B.C. Supreme Court rules

City of Victoria asked court to clarify uses of park under 1882 Trustee Act

A couple of tents in Beacon Hill Park in January 2020. The B.C. Supreme Court ruled Feb. 24 sheltering in the park is not allowed under the 1882 Trustee Act. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Conestoga hut is ‘cheap, quick, warm, good bed, in out of the rain, step up from a tent and secure,’ says Krista Loughton of Community Alliance for Sheltering Alternatives. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Saanich hut showcases what shelter could look like

Conestoga huts a potential short-term solution toward housing

The Conestoga hut is ‘cheap, quick, warm, good bed, in out of the rain, step up from a tent and secure,’ says Krista Loughton of Community Alliance for Sheltering Alternatives. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)