Homeless

People who experience homelessness in Kelowna often sleep in doorways of businesses on the city’s main downtown street, Bernard Avenue. (David Venn - Kelowna Capital News)

Kelowna’s tent city garners national attention after Poilievre tweet

Pierre Poilievre tweeted a video of a designated homeless encampment in Kelowna

 

A woman who suffered a series of catastrophes after moving to Victoria - including becoming homeless - got zero sympathy from an adjudicator in a civil case. (Pexels photo)

Homeless Victoria woman ordered to pay back boss $4K in loans that brought her to city

Court had zero sympathy despite series of catastrophes

 

City of Campbell River City Hall. Campbell River Mirror Photo

Campbell River takes another stab at banning public drug consumption

Legal challenge, jurisdictional issues quashed first attempt so city proposing a new bylaw

 

Vancouver police officers surround a tent with a person still inside as city workers clear an encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

City of Vancouver says safety up, overdoses and attacks down, after tent camp removal

Vancouver Fire and Rescue received 27 fewer overdose-related calls during the week of the sweep

Vancouver police officers surround a tent with a person still inside as city workers clear an encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver police officers form a barricade as a person removes their belongings while city workers clear an encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Vancouver police officers have been deployed to a tent encampment on the city’s Downtown Eastside with the aim of shutting down the site to campers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver’s homeless shelters are overwhelmed following heavy rainfall and decampment

‘You need to have enough spots for people to go to and there are not enough spots’

Vancouver police officers form a barricade as a person removes their belongings while city workers clear an encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Vancouver police officers have been deployed to a tent encampment on the city’s Downtown Eastside with the aim of shutting down the site to campers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dan Hogan gets emotional as they load a few of his possessions into a truck. (Michael Briones photo)

Temporary shelter at Parksville’s VIP Motel is now closed

OHEARTS future is uncertain after emotional last day for residents

Dan Hogan gets emotional as they load a few of his possessions into a truck. (Michael Briones photo)
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

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
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
Tent camp in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)

Judge sides with Victoria in confiscated donation suit launched by unhoused advocate

Niki Ottosen sued city for $500 after some items she had donated were seized by bylaw officers

Tent camp in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press Media)
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
Unhoused people set up camp in the park during the COVID-19 pandemic, when sheltering space was reduced. (Black Press Media file photo)

Judge rejects B.C. appeal of court ruling halting sheltering in Beacon Hill Park

Province was concerned ruling could set precedent for other communities

  • Feb 22, 2023
Unhoused people set up camp in the park during the COVID-19 pandemic, when sheltering space was reduced. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)
Volunteer Kaya Dunk rings the bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign during Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay Light-Up festivities on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Salvation Army reports ‘staggering’ number of first-time Vancouver Island holiday users

Staffing continues to be an issue for organization as it works to support the less-fortunate

Volunteer Kaya Dunk rings the bells for the Salvation Army’s kettle campaign during Port Alberni’s Harbour Quay Light-Up festivities on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
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
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
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
FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

75% spike: 247 people experiencing homelessness died in 2021 in B.C.

Increase in lives lost fuelled by the ongoing toxic drug poisonings

FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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 August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Judicial review sought of fire order to remove tents off Vancouver street

Petition argues fire chief made order without procedural fairness to those living on Hastings Street

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 August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)

UPDATE: Charges laid after man dragged through encampment by truck

Driver arrested; Victim taken to hospital with serious injuries

A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)
Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna’s vulnerable want to shelter from heat wave, but bylaw requires they move

Bylaw requires residents of homeless encampment to pack-up and leave each morning

Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)