Housing and Homelessness

Icy weather brings a world of danger to people experiencing homelessness. In addition, the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s temporary supportive systems are due to close, but the need does not just end when the weather warms up, say advocates. (Sobia Moman photo)

Frostbite, thefts, sleeping under snow experienced by Semiahmoo Peninsula’s homeless as shelters run over-capacity

Calls increase for long-term solutions for unsheltered community in South Surrey, White Rock

 

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

 

Aku Roshani, a Cove shelter outreach/support worker, outside the temporary hygiene facility in Whalley on Wednesday, Dec. 7. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

VIDEO: Inside Surrey’s new facility where the homeless can shower, use toilet, wash clothes, use computer

‘There’s nothing like this in Surrey,’ outreach worker says of the ‘temporary’ trailer in Whalley

 

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

B.C. man designs ‘turtlepods’ – mobile personal shelter prototypes to assist the unhoused

‘I think of it as supporting urban nomadism.’

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
Karen Fraser of Child Care Resource and Referral helped serve up cake at a Monday, June 6 celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Langley Community Services Society. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Lower Mainland social service agency that started out in a 1916 barn marks 50th anniversary

Programs and services offered are based on the needs of the Langley community, and are offered free

Karen Fraser of Child Care Resource and Referral helped serve up cake at a Monday, June 6 celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Langley Community Services Society. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)
Surrey City Hall, pictured in April 2021. (File photo: Lauren Collins)

Surrey bylaw officers to partner with social workers to help city’s unhoused population

One-year pilot project set to run through to July 31, 2023

Surrey City Hall, pictured in April 2021. (File photo: Lauren Collins)
Surrey Coun. Laurie Guerra is president of the Surrey Homeless & Housing Society. (File photo)

Surrey Homelessness & Housing Society launching 2022 grant program

Last year, the society provided $290,000 to 9 projects

Surrey Coun. Laurie Guerra is president of the Surrey Homeless & Housing Society. (File photo)
The new 40-uniit project at Little’s Place is set to open in May of 2021. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

‘A blessing’: Atira set to open another 44 units of women’s housing in Surrey this spring

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland visited the site as part of 2022 budget tour

The new 40-uniit project at Little’s Place is set to open in May of 2021. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Walk With Me cultural safety production coordinator Darcy Honey is nice and comfortable inside the new mobile shelter. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

B.C. tiny home pods offer ‘emergency middle ground’ for unhoused people

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

Walk With Me cultural safety production coordinator Darcy Honey is nice and comfortable inside the new mobile shelter. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
FILE PHOTO - Walkers participating in the 2020 Coldest Night of the Year walk with their special toques for the event. This year, the Surrey-Whalley walk aims to raise $25,000, which is hosted by the Surrey Road to Home Society. (File photo: Lauren Collins)

Surrey-Whalley ‘Coldest Night’ walk aims to raise $25K

Donations accepted until March 31

FILE PHOTO - Walkers participating in the 2020 Coldest Night of the Year walk with their special toques for the event. This year, the Surrey-Whalley walk aims to raise $25,000, which is hosted by the Surrey Road to Home Society. (File photo: Lauren Collins)
White Rock council has taken a first step toward providing a daytime warming centre for the balance of this winter. (File photo)

White Rock council approves temporary daytime warming centre

Costs of Centennial Park trailer facility to be shared with Surrey

White Rock council has taken a first step toward providing a daytime warming centre for the balance of this winter. (File photo)
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, at 2350 148 St., is hosting the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s extreme-weather shelter for the 2021-2022 season. (File photo)

South Surrey/White Rock daytime warming centre remains top-of-mind

Extreme-weather shelter users have ‘nowhere to go’ between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Mount Olive Lutheran Church, at 2350 148 St., is hosting the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s extreme-weather shelter for the 2021-2022 season. (File photo)