Housing and Homelessness

The Victoria Fire Department extinguished a 15 foot tent fire in the 500-block of Ellice Street Jan. 19. (Black Press Media File Photo)

Victoria police investigating after 15-foot flames engulf tent

Flames damage nearby business in 500-block of Ellice Street

 

Randy Brown, owner of Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue, has five trailers and a motorhome at the back of his property that he is renting to people who had been previously homeless. He wants to put 15 trailers on his property, hooked up to city sewer and water and BC Hydro. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Alberni building owner digs in, refuses to remove illegal trailers

Port Alberni council gives owner two-week reprieve on remediation orders

 

Another modular unit is lifted into place on the second floor of the new supportive housing complex being built at 580 Dogwood Street. Photo by Cleo Corbett/City of Campbell River

Ups and downs for people working to address homelessness in Campbell River

Pandemic exacerbated the bad, but made groups work together for the good

 

A former tattoo shop on Third Avenue is boarded up after the Port Alberni Fire Department ordered the building to be vacated due to unsafe conditions. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Unofficial ‘shelter’ shut down in Port Alberni commercial district

Fire department deemed building was unsafe

A former tattoo shop on Third Avenue is boarded up after the Port Alberni Fire Department ordered the building to be vacated due to unsafe conditions. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
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

The City of Victoria is closing Central Park for ‘remediation’ on Jan. 4. (Black Press Media file photo)
Alice Sam, left, Graham Hughes and Lisa George (holding Hughes’ puppy Riot) volunteer at a nighttime ‘pop-up’ warming centre at a city-owned parking lot on Fourth Avenue, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. The temporary warming shelter included two propane firepits, food, warm drinks, Naloxone and hygiene kits. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Quinn: Volunteer gives name, dignity to people living rough

“Our aim is to get people off the streets. We don’t want to have to have a warming centre.”

Alice Sam, left, Graham Hughes and Lisa George (holding Hughes’ puppy Riot) volunteer at a nighttime ‘pop-up’ warming centre at a city-owned parking lot on Fourth Avenue, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. The temporary warming shelter included two propane firepits, food, warm drinks, Naloxone and hygiene kits. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
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

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)
Alice Sam, left, Graham Hughes and Lisa George <ins>(holding Hughes’ puppy Riot</ins>) volunteer at a nighttime ‘pop-up’ warming centre at a city-owned parking lot on Fourth Avenue, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. <ins>The warming shelters were a three-night experiment from 6 p.m. to midnight and were set up and taken down each night. </ins> (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Trial run for ‘pop-up’ warming centre in Port Alberni

The Grassroots Homelessness Coalition Society is helping Port Alberni’s vulnerable people

Alice Sam, left, Graham Hughes and Lisa George <ins>(holding Hughes’ puppy Riot</ins>) volunteer at a nighttime ‘pop-up’ warming centre at a city-owned parking lot on Fourth Avenue, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. <ins>The warming shelters were a three-night experiment from 6 p.m. to midnight and were set up and taken down each night. </ins> (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The Extreme Weather Shelter located at 690 Evergreen Road will be providing spaces during the alert. Photo courtesy Google Maps

Emergency Weather Alert posted for Campbell River’s people experiencing homelessness

Alert is a tool to help law enforcement assist those in need of shelter

The Extreme Weather Shelter located at 690 Evergreen Road will be providing spaces during the alert. Photo courtesy Google Maps
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)
Renovations are complete at the Bread of Life and following a final health inspection, the warming centre at the Third Avenue facility will be open a few days a week. (PHOTO COURTESY BREAD OF LIFE SOCIETY)

Port Alberni’s warming centre close to opening

Organizers aim for Dec. 4 pending final health inspection

Renovations are complete at the Bread of Life and following a final health inspection, the warming centre at the Third Avenue facility will be open a few days a week. (PHOTO COURTESY BREAD OF LIFE SOCIETY)
Tim Sutherland Sr. likes to go down to Harbour Quay and feel the breeze on his face. On stormy days when the wind whips the rain into his face, he thinks of his son Tim Sutherland Jr., and wonders whether he is warm and dry. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Finding shelter from the storm

Search for housing a journey of false hope for Alberni father and adult son

Tim Sutherland Sr. likes to go down to Harbour Quay and feel the breeze on his face. On stormy days when the wind whips the rain into his face, he thinks of his son Tim Sutherland Jr., and wonders whether he is warm and dry. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Public washrooms are now open in West Kelowna. (City of West Kelowna)

Quinn: When nature calls, where do you go when you’re homeless?

When you’ve gotta go, where do you go?

Public washrooms are now open in West Kelowna. (City of West Kelowna)
‘Homelessness’ means many things to people with no permanent place to sleep. For some, the challenge to find safe shelter is greater than for others. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni mother battles to find housing for her son

Mary Elles fears her middle-age son will die on the street before he will find safe housing

‘Homelessness’ means many things to people with no permanent place to sleep. For some, the challenge to find safe shelter is greater than for others. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Randy Brown, owner of Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue, has five trailers and a motorhome at the back of his property that he is renting to people who had been previously homeless. He wants to put 15 trailers on his property, hooked up to city sewer and water and BC Hydro. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Another ‘deplorable’ Port Alberni property slapped with remediation order

Wintergreen Apartments and the impromptu trailer park in its grounds attract city attention

Randy Brown, owner of Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue, has five trailers and a motorhome at the back of his property that he is renting to people who had been previously homeless. He wants to put 15 trailers on his property, hooked up to city sewer and water and BC Hydro. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Volunteers gather at Third Avenue and Mar Street on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 to walk the streets of Uptown Port Alberni searching for people sleeping in alleys to hand out food and Naloxone kits. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Port Alberni tent city evicted again

Campers took over gazebo at Roger Creek Park

Volunteers gather at Third Avenue and Mar Street on Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 to walk the streets of Uptown Port Alberni searching for people sleeping in alleys to hand out food and Naloxone kits. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Protesters and campers who joined the “occupy shelter” tent city in front of Our Home on Eighth (Port Alberni’s shelter) continue to pack their belongings and tents after being told to leave. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Editorial: Island politicians need to get vocal about homelessness

No Vancouver Island community is immune as latest Port Alberni issues have shown

Protesters and campers who joined the “occupy shelter” tent city in front of Our Home on Eighth (Port Alberni’s shelter) continue to pack their belongings and tents after being told to leave. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Recreational vehicles parked behind a building on Fourth Avenue are behind used as temporary housing, contravening City of Port Alberni zoning bylaws. (CARA GIENI/ Special to the AV News)

Port Alberni property owner ticketed for using motorhomes as shelters for homeless

City bylaw officers ticket owner for contravening zoning laws

Recreational vehicles parked behind a building on Fourth Avenue are behind used as temporary housing, contravening City of Port Alberni zoning bylaws. (CARA GIENI/ Special to the AV News)
Ten tents and piles of belongings covered in tarps sit in the wet grass of Island Health-owned property beside Our Home on Eighth shelter, Nov. 13, 2020. Island Health on Friday evicted protesters who set up a ‘tent city’ three weeks earlier. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

BC Housing hires third-party contractor to review Port Alberni’s shelter

Review could take several weeks to complete

Ten tents and piles of belongings covered in tarps sit in the wet grass of Island Health-owned property beside Our Home on Eighth shelter, Nov. 13, 2020. Island Health on Friday evicted protesters who set up a ‘tent city’ three weeks earlier. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Island Health workers, volunteers and occupants on Nov. 13, 2020 clean up a ‘tent city’ in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter that has been there since Oct. 23. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni ‘tent city’ campers evicted from Island Health property

Camp began as a protest against the Port Alberni Shelter

Island Health workers, volunteers and occupants on Nov. 13, 2020 clean up a ‘tent city’ in front of Our Home on Eighth shelter that has been there since Oct. 23. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)