Homelessness

City council decided on Feb. 27, 2023 that a tent encampment on 3rd Street SW across from the Salvation Army building in Salmon Arm must be moved by March 15. (File photo)

Letter: Tent encampment’s effect on Salmon Arm soccer field concerns resident

‘Sometimes, you can’t help those who don’t want help’

  • Mar 10, 2023

 

Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Kid Cupid: Young Abbotsford boy delivers love to the streets with Valentine’s Day bags

Suhaandeep Gill, 7, created thoughtful bags of much-needed items to give to three city shelters

 

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)

Health officer pushes back as B.C. town tries to step around drug decriminalization

Campbell River rejects plea to wait six months before forging ahead with drug use ban bylaw

 

A tent encampment remains on 3rd Street SW across from the Salvation Army building in Salmon Arm because the temporary winter shelter at the Downtown Activity Centre is not considered suitable for everyone living rough in the community. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Parking complaints take back seat in Salmon Arm to tent encampment reports

Bylaw enforcement summary lists $11,000 cost in 2022 for public works to clean up vacated sites

A tent encampment remains on 3rd Street SW across from the Salvation Army building in Salmon Arm because the temporary winter shelter at the Downtown Activity Centre is not considered suitable for everyone living rough in the community. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
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)
Performer Blake Elliott presented a cheque for $10,000 from the ‘mister Blake foundation’ to Refresh Mobile Shower Ministry’s Bill Keyes in Abbotsford on Jan. 19. The ministry provides showers in a mobile unit to the unhoused, in partnership with other service providers in Abbotsford and Maple Ridge. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Mobile shower ministry gets big boost to continue work in Fraser Valley

Abbotsford-based group has provided 2,600 showers to people in need since 2019

Performer Blake Elliott presented a cheque for $10,000 from the ‘mister Blake foundation’ to Refresh Mobile Shower Ministry’s Bill Keyes in Abbotsford on Jan. 19. The ministry provides showers in a mobile unit to the unhoused, in partnership with other service providers in Abbotsford and Maple Ridge. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)
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 sea can with a generator, along with two porta potties, were delivered to 3rd Street SE on Dec. 20, near the tent encampment on the east side of the street. (File photo)

Letter: Much appreciation for Salmon Arm man with sea can for people living rough

‘My heart is warmed by this generous act that has provided a lifesaving stopgap…’

  • Dec 30, 2022
A sea can with a generator, along with two porta potties, were delivered to 3rd Street SE on Dec. 20, near the tent encampment on the east side of the street. (File photo)
Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN) its photographed at a Stabilization & Connection site designed to help people who are unhoused, in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

VIDEO: New hospital program helps Toronto’s homeless, cuts ambulance offload times

Stand-alone clinic provides space for people to recover from intoxication

Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN) its photographed at a Stabilization & Connection site designed to help people who are unhoused, in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20 C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Social agencies and advocates say rising interest rates and a high rate of inflation are pushing more Canadians into homelessness. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘Perfect storm’ of inflation, high prices driving more into homelessness: advocates

Housing shortage, opioid crisis also making matters worse

Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20 C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Social agencies and advocates say rising interest rates and a high rate of inflation are pushing more Canadians into homelessness. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C., Vancouver partner to build modular housing for Downtown Eastside residents

90 temporary units to be ready by March 2023

Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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 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)
King’s Christian School Grade 10 students in the Family and Society class walk through the tunnel heading towards Salmon Arm Secondary’s Jackson campus during the 24-hour period when they were getting a better understanding of what it might be like to be without a home. (Photo contributed)

Students try living rough in Salmon Arm through 24-hour experiment

King’s Christian Grade 10 class surrenders familiar comforts for cold night out

King’s Christian School Grade 10 students in the Family and Society class walk through the tunnel heading towards Salmon Arm Secondary’s Jackson campus during the 24-hour period when they were getting a better understanding of what it might be like to be without a home. (Photo contributed)
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver city council approves funding for more police, mental-health nurses

Motion leaves door open for provincial or federal government to contribute

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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)
B.C. Premier David Eby makes an announcement in Vancouver on November 20, 2022. On Nov. 21, Eby announced his plan to tackle the province’s housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Eby drills down on age-restrictive stratas, municipal targets in new housing measures

Proposed legislation will give B.C. greater control over how communities address housing needs

B.C. Premier David Eby makes an announcement in Vancouver on November 20, 2022. On Nov. 21, Eby announced his plan to tackle the province’s housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A look inside the former Victory Church Shelter in Penticton, which closed earlier in 2022. (File photo)

Extreme weather shelters in Penticton will open when temperatures hit at least -7 C

A temporary shelter was open in Penticton from Nov. 8 to 14; no confirmed location moving forward

A look inside the former Victory Church Shelter in Penticton, which closed earlier in 2022. (File photo)
A homeless camp was taken down in Vernon at the far end of Polson Park near the railroad tracks Nov. 10, 2022. (Derrick Abram Koscielny photo)

Vernon homeless camp taken down

It’s unknown where residents who lived at the camp are now residing

A homeless camp was taken down in Vernon at the far end of Polson Park near the railroad tracks Nov. 10, 2022. (Derrick Abram Koscielny photo)
The Seventh Day Adventist Church is currently the site of an extreme weather response shelter in Penticton due to the cold temperatures. (Google Streetview)

Penticton quietly opens and closes extreme weather shelter

The church location was open for three nights

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is currently the site of an extreme weather response shelter in Penticton due to the cold temperatures. (Google Streetview)