Homeless

Sooke’s homeless have relocated to Ed Macgregor Park following the closure of the temporary shelter at SEAPARC. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke’s homeless displaced to Ed Macgregor park

Temporary homeless shelter at SEAPARC closed July 22

  • Jun 24, 2020
Sooke’s homeless have relocated to Ed Macgregor Park following the closure of the temporary shelter at SEAPARC. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
The B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless. Now, the City of Victoria has passed a motion to resume booking hotel and motel rooms for the homeless population sheltering in city parks. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Victoria to book more hotel rooms for people sheltering in parks

The City will use ‘unspent’ COVID-19 response funds to book the rooms

The B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless. Now, the City of Victoria has passed a motion to resume booking hotel and motel rooms for the homeless population sheltering in city parks. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
The B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

‘Seven baths in two days’: Homeless adjusting to life in hotels

Victoria passes motion to allow camping 24-7 in parks until June 25

The B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Eight people arrested on Pandora Avenue after enforcement order issued

Eight people arrested on Pandora Avenue after enforcement order issued

Those living in homeless camps were given until May 20 to move indoors

Eight people arrested on Pandora Avenue after enforcement order issued
Bylaw officers stand ready to pack up people’s tents as they move into hotels. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Homeless worry about their future as deadline to move into hotel looms

Sandy Fisher says he won’t leave Pandora until everyone is in a safe home

Bylaw officers stand ready to pack up people’s tents as they move into hotels. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Tents erected side-by-side in the Fuller Lake site enclosure for the homeless. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Resident concerns abundant over parking lot homeless tent site at Island arena

Theft, harm to nearby trails top of mind for those who lives nearby in Chemainus

Tents erected side-by-side in the Fuller Lake site enclosure for the homeless. (Photo by Don Bodger)
This unused BMX track on Homewood Road will be used as a temporary campsite for people experiencing homelessness in Campbell River. Google image

Island city converting unused BMX track into temporary homeless campsite

The City of Campbell River is providing a site on an unused…

  • May 15, 2020
This unused BMX track on Homewood Road will be used as a temporary campsite for people experiencing homelessness in Campbell River. Google image
B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless.

Province buys Victoria hotel to be used as affordable housing for homeless

B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, at 3020 Blanshard St.

B.C. government spent $18.5 million on Comfort Inn Hotel, located at 3020 Blanshard Street, to provide affordable housing to the homeless.
FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, a person uses a smart phone in Chicago. (AP Photo)

B.C. gives smart phones to vulnerable, homeless to access services, connect with family

COVID-19 restrictions have left many public places closed, leaving people without access to internet

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, a person uses a smart phone in Chicago. (AP Photo)
Curtis Caziere and Liza Charlie are back living at the Travelodge – this time for free – after being evicted last month. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Evicted Victoria couple return to Travelodge rent-free

Couple says BC Housing helped get them back into hotel

Curtis Caziere and Liza Charlie are back living at the Travelodge – this time for free – after being evicted last month. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
A hundred tents have been spread out over Topaz Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

B.C. enacts provincial order to move homeless at Victoria encampments into hotels

Encampments will be dismantled, with temporary supportive housing in hotels, community centres

A hundred tents have been spread out over Topaz Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
The Mustard Seed Street Church is looking for clothing donations to benefit Victoria’s homeless population who are struggling to find essentials amidst COVID-19. (Facebook/The Mustard Seed Street Church)

Mustard Seed Food Bank in dire need of used clothes for homeless

Clothes can be dropped off from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at 625 Queens Ave.

The Mustard Seed Street Church is looking for clothing donations to benefit Victoria’s homeless population who are struggling to find essentials amidst COVID-19. (Facebook/The Mustard Seed Street Church)
Approximately 75 tents lined Pandora Avenue on April 3, some closer than the two-metre physical distance guideline set out by the provincial health officer. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Death on Pandora Avenue not thought to be COVID-19 related

A man in his late 30s died in his tent

Approximately 75 tents lined Pandora Avenue on April 3, some closer than the two-metre physical distance guideline set out by the provincial health officer. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
The entrance to an area of Topaz Park, across from the Chabad Centre, where the City of Victoria allows homeless to camp amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Rabbi calls on Victoria to close Topaz Park homeless camp

Victoria mayor continues to look for ways to get everyone indoors

The entrance to an area of Topaz Park, across from the Chabad Centre, where the City of Victoria allows homeless to camp amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The homeless population is at a high risk for contracting COVID-19. B.C. Housing plans to use SEAPARC Leisure Complex as an emergency space for up to 45 homeless people needing to self-isolate during the coronvirus outbreak. (Kendra Crighton - Black Press Media)

Sooke rec centre to provide self-isolation space for homeless people

B.C. Housing still developing operating plan, expects to welcome homeless soon

  • Apr 20, 2020
The homeless population is at a high risk for contracting COVID-19. B.C. Housing plans to use SEAPARC Leisure Complex as an emergency space for up to 45 homeless people needing to self-isolate during the coronvirus outbreak. (Kendra Crighton - Black Press Media)
A hundred tents have been spread out over Topaz Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Concerns rise for Greater Victoria’s homeless population during COVID-19

Delays in health measures putting local resources under pressure

A hundred tents have been spread out over Topaz Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Homeless and underhoused people occupied Strathcona Elementary School demanding more housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, April 18. (Red Braid Alliance/Facebook)

Police arrest 14 people occupying empty Vancouver elementary school amid pandemic

Protesters were asking for housing during the COVID-19 crisis

Homeless and underhoused people occupied Strathcona Elementary School demanding more housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday, April 18. (Red Braid Alliance/Facebook)
It took about a week for a coalition of organizations including three levels of government, half a dozen community service organizations and a few local businesses to plan, construct and move the Smithers downtown homeless community into a camp on the outskirts of town. (Thom Barker photo) It took about a week for a coalition of organizations including three levels of government, half a dozen community service organizations and a few local businesses to plan, construct and move the Smithers downtown homeless community into a camp on the outskirts of town. (Thom Barker photo)

Northern B.C. town builds camp on outskirt of town for homeless population

Smithers Bylaw officer Matt Davey says the move was made with buy-in from the affected people

It took about a week for a coalition of organizations including three levels of government, half a dozen community service organizations and a few local businesses to plan, construct and move the Smithers downtown homeless community into a camp on the outskirts of town. (Thom Barker photo) It took about a week for a coalition of organizations including three levels of government, half a dozen community service organizations and a few local businesses to plan, construct and move the Smithers downtown homeless community into a camp on the outskirts of town. (Thom Barker photo)
Beacon Hill Park, Topaz Park and the Royal Athletic Park will become temporary sites for the homeless in efforts to try to limit spread of COVID-19. (Black Press file photo)

Beacon Hill, Topaz, Royal Athletic parks to open as temporary sites for the homeless

Victoria announced formalized camps to help combat spread of COVID-19

Beacon Hill Park, Topaz Park and the Royal Athletic Park will become temporary sites for the homeless in efforts to try to limit spread of COVID-19. (Black Press file photo)
According to Central Saanich Police, camper vans displaced from Victoria’s Dallas Road have popped up in Central Saanich (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Central Saanich Police find more people are sleeping in their cars

Police said influx of people from Victoria to Island View Beach

According to Central Saanich Police, camper vans displaced from Victoria’s Dallas Road have popped up in Central Saanich (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
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