Homeless

'Hostile design' curved bench on Bernard Ave. that prevents people from laying down. (Google Maps)

‘At least have a bench to sleep on’: Charity calls out hostile design in Kelowna

Anti-homeless architecture prevents people from laying down and adds ‘insult to injury’

 

Police say a body has been found inside the remains of a burned tent at an encampment on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Woman found dead after firefighters douse blaze at Vancouver tent encampment

Woman appears to have died before the fire started

 

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP investigated a suspicious grass fire near Vernon’s Department of National Defence army camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. (Black Press file photo)

RCMP investigating furniture fire in Vernon park

Polson Park blaze spread to wooded area overnight

 

A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The cityÕs fire chief issued an order last month requiring the tents to be cleared because of an extreme fire safety hazard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Annual count of Metro Vancouver homeless underway after pandemic hiatus

11 municipalities across the Lower Mainland are taking part in the 24-hour, point-in-time count

A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The cityÕs fire chief issued an order last month requiring the tents to be cleared because of an extreme fire safety hazard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A person pushes a stroller past the shelter of an unhoused person in Toronto on Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023. The federal housing advocate is launching a review of homeless encampments in Canada, calling the situation a human rights crisis fuelled in part by the failure of all levels of government to provide adequate housing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Federal housing advocate reviewing ‘human rights crisis’ of homeless encampments

Review takes place against the backdrop of a visible rise in homeless encampments since the start of COVID-19

A person pushes a stroller past the shelter of an unhoused person in Toronto on Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023. The federal housing advocate is launching a review of homeless encampments in Canada, calling the situation a human rights crisis fuelled in part by the failure of all levels of government to provide adequate housing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Clair Hutman, one of many participants in the 2018 Strides event, waves enthusiastically as his wife, Carol, laughs at her husband’s energy. - Credit: Matthew Abrey

Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is hosting Strides, a run/walk fundraiser

Take stride to support those making a positive impact in Kelowna

Clair Hutman, one of many participants in the 2018 Strides event, waves enthusiastically as his wife, Carol, laughs at her husband’s energy. - Credit: Matthew Abrey
Johnathan Staniforth. (Photo/Kelowna RCMP)

Quick trip through the justice system for Kelowna shelter attacker

‘It is rare for this type of sentence to be delivered so swiftly’

Johnathan Staniforth. (Photo/Kelowna RCMP)
Crystal Hedlund (left), who operates a business, Crystal’s Baked Blessings, helps out families in need with Christmas dinners and gifts. (Submitted photo)

Burnout, death threats, stigma: Inside the life of an Okanagan non-profit operator

Three women who have tasked themselves with helping others share their stories

Crystal Hedlund (left), who operates a business, Crystal’s Baked Blessings, helps out families in need with Christmas dinners and gifts. (Submitted photo)
Drug paraphernalia and garbage plague the downtown Vernon Swan Brook Estates complex. (Contributed)

2 fires in 2 weeks at downtown Vernon apartment

Residents tired of homeless lighting fires, doing drugs, leaving garbage

Drug paraphernalia and garbage plague the downtown Vernon Swan Brook Estates complex. (Contributed)
Khristina (last name withheld), seen here at Salish Park on Jan. 18, 2023, from Saskatchewan comes to Chilliwack twice a year to find her son who is living on the streets, and to hand out supplies to homeless people. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

Saskatchewan cattle rancher visits Fraser Valley twice a year to find her homeless son

‘I spent time with him, and that has to be enough’

Khristina (last name withheld), seen here at Salish Park on Jan. 18, 2023, from Saskatchewan comes to Chilliwack twice a year to find her son who is living on the streets, and to hand out supplies to homeless people. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
(Brittany Webster/Black Press Media file)

Kelowna launches innovative new thermal beds for those experiencing homelessness

The 20 one-person and seven two-person shelters will provide warmth to 34 Kelowna residents

(Brittany Webster/Black Press Media file)
The survey, conducted by Henluk Consulting Ltd., gathered information from people who are homeless, living on the streets, living in emergency shelters, and those at risk of homelessness. (Black Press file photo)

People accessing help in West Kelowna just want food and warmth: Survey

Approximately 77 per cent of respondents said they accessed services for shelter, food, and clothing

The survey, conducted by Henluk Consulting Ltd., gathered information from people who are homeless, living on the streets, living in emergency shelters, and those at risk of homelessness. (Black Press file photo)
A person hails a taxi as heavy snow falls in downtown Vancouver, late Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver and the south coast of B.C. with 10 to 20 centimetres of snow expected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. snowfall no winter wonderland for Vancouver’s poor and homeless, says advocate

Those living in tents face dangers ranging from hypothermia to risks of using candles or heaters

A person hails a taxi as heavy snow falls in downtown Vancouver, late Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver and the south coast of B.C. with 10 to 20 centimetres of snow expected. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A homeless person is covered in blankets to shield him from the cold. (Black Press Media file photo)

Warming centres opened in Okanagan amid cold snap

Penticton and Vernon have responded to the extreme cold

A homeless person is covered in blankets to shield him from the cold. (Black Press Media file photo)
British Columbia’s new Housing Ministry says the province is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 90 modular housing units in two locations with round-the-clock supports for people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. A temporary modular housing suite is visited by the public while on display in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

B.C., Vancouver partner to build modular housing in strategy to disperse street camps

Temporary homes will serve as a ‘bridge’ for people, David Eby says

British Columbia’s new Housing Ministry says the province is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 90 modular housing units in two locations with round-the-clock supports for people experiencing homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. A temporary modular housing suite is visited by the public while on display in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
JohnThiessen was a tireless advocate for Kelowna’s homeless. (Facebook)

Prominent Kelowna homeless advocate dies

Thiessen regularly fed and clothed those living on city streets

JohnThiessen was a tireless advocate for Kelowna’s homeless. (Facebook)
The Salvation Army’s former Lighthouse Shelter will be home to the Cafe at the Lighthouse come Monday, Dec. 5, a warming centre that will offer coffee, sandwiches and doughnuts as well as a place to shower and do laundry. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

People without homes in Salmon Arm to get relief from cold with Salvation Army Café

Former homeless shelter to open 9 to 2 weekdays with food, showers, CMHA gets second outreach worker

The Salvation Army’s former Lighthouse Shelter will be home to the Cafe at the Lighthouse come Monday, Dec. 5, a warming centre that will offer coffee, sandwiches and doughnuts as well as a place to shower and do laundry. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
The City of Kelowna warming bus pilot program will be similar to one operated by Turning Points Collaborative Society in Vernon. (Black Press file photo)

City of Kelowna on board with ‘warming bus’ pilot program

The bus will be parked at the designated outdoor sheltering site starting the evening of Dec. 1

The City of Kelowna warming bus pilot program will be similar to one operated by Turning Points Collaborative Society in Vernon. (Black Press file photo)
A Journey Home spokesman said there are about 130 people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna. (Black Press/File photo)

New program shows real-time availability of shelter beds in Kelowna

On Nov.22, at 2p.m. Kelowna had two shelter beds available for adults

A Journey Home spokesman said there are about 130 people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna. (Black Press/File photo)
Firefighters and RCMP on Rail Trail, Nov. 17. (Jordy Cunningham/ Capital News)

‘It’s not the first and it won’t be the last’: Fire crews douse blaze on Kelowna’s Rail Trail

Those experiencing homelessness are building campfires for warmth off the Rail Trail

Firefighters and RCMP on Rail Trail, Nov. 17. (Jordy Cunningham/ Capital News)