Homeless

BC Housing minister David Eby. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Eby jabs back against Penticton mayor’s ad urging BC Premier to intervene in shelter dispute

Eby writes that Penticton’s ‘serious’ social issues won’t improve under leadership of the mayor

 

A homeless camp is pictured in Strathcona Park in Vancouver. British Columbia’s housing minister says campers in Vancouver’s Strathcona Park can either choose to accept the housing on offer or leave the park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. working to house people camping in Vancouver park as deadline to leave looms

Campers at the park have until Friday at 10 a.m. to tear down their tents

 

The area under the Highway 20 bridge in Williams Lake is being fenced in by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s contractor. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake area under Highway 20 bridge being fenced in to deter camps, fires

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said the fencing should be completed mid-March

 

A makeshift cold-weather camp that popped over Family Day long weekend in Parksville, located in the back parking lot of St. Anne’s church. (Mandy Moraes photo)

As snow falls on shelter-less B.C. town, woman builds her own makeshift homeless camp

‘There’s no doors open and these people are literally freezing’

A makeshift cold-weather camp that popped over Family Day long weekend in Parksville, located in the back parking lot of St. Anne’s church. (Mandy Moraes photo)
James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Homeless man says ‘thank you’ to Chilliwack firefighters for building him a shelter

City of Chilliwack received several calls this week from people concerned about James’ safety

James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
City crews are enclosing the picnic shelter at Boitanio Park Monday, Feb. 8, to provide a daytime heated shelter for vulnerable people. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Williams Lake picnic shelter to be tarped, heated for daytime warming area during cold snap

‘We anticipate it will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for two weeks,’: said city CAO

City crews are enclosing the picnic shelter at Boitanio Park Monday, Feb. 8, to provide a daytime heated shelter for vulnerable people. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
A cleanup is planned Sunday, Dec. 20 to cleanup the area under the bridge that crosses the Williams Lake Creek on Highway 20. (Scott Nelson photo)

Williams Lake cleanup to target area under Highway 20 bridge Sunday

City councillor Scott Nelson said volunteers will meet at 9:30, Dec. 20

A cleanup is planned Sunday, Dec. 20 to cleanup the area under the bridge that crosses the Williams Lake Creek on Highway 20. (Scott Nelson photo)
A group is advocating for a sanctioned homeless camp in Williams Lake. (file image)

Letter: Williams Lake homeless require supports

We want a sanctioned camping space for homeless people struggling with substance use issues

  • Dec 15, 2020
A group is advocating for a sanctioned homeless camp in Williams Lake. (file image)
Katherine McParland was executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit agency devoted to working on ending youth homelessness. McParland herself was homeless for a period of time after aging out of the foster system. Photograph By KTW FILE

Kamloops homeless advocate leaves defining legacy following death

The death of the executive director of A Way Home Kamloops is being mourned by the team at the agency

  • Dec 7, 2020
Katherine McParland was executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit agency devoted to working on ending youth homelessness. McParland herself was homeless for a period of time after aging out of the foster system. Photograph By KTW FILE
A group advocating for people experiencing homelessness in Williams Lake has asked the city for land to set up a temporary homeless camp. Here is a makeshift shelter on a city parking lot where someone was living in for a few days in October. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

City of Williams Lake asked for land to house a camp for homeless

It would be a temporary solution, said Judy Ventry

A group advocating for people experiencing homelessness in Williams Lake has asked the city for land to set up a temporary homeless camp. Here is a makeshift shelter on a city parking lot where someone was living in for a few days in October. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
A man walks through a homeless camp where approximately 150 people are living at a parking lot on Port of Vancouver property adjacent to Crab Park, in Vancouver on June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. announces creation of first-ever ‘navigation centre’ to help homeless

Residents referred to the navigation centre will be able to stay until longer-term housing is available

A man walks through a homeless camp where approximately 150 people are living at a parking lot on Port of Vancouver property adjacent to Crab Park, in Vancouver on June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Eight people arrested in Victoria homeless camp after enforcement order issued

Eight people arrested in Victoria homeless camp after enforcement order issued

Those living in tents were given until May 20 to move indoors

Eight people arrested in Victoria homeless camp after enforcement order issued
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)
A hundred tents have been spread out over Topaz Park. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

B.C. enacts provincial order to move homeless at 3 large 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)
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)
Volunteers deliver food, but keep their distance from those in need in Boitanio Park Sunday

Volunteers deliver food, but keep their distance from those in need in Boitanio Park Sunday

COVID-19 has outreach programs in Williams Lake modifying how they can still help the needy

Volunteers deliver food, but keep their distance from those in need in Boitanio Park Sunday
Wendy Fontaine, left, Dustin Westerman and Coral Quon were three of many people who helped conduct a homeless count in Williams Lake on Tuesday, March 10. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Volunteers help with homeless count

“For a cold and windy day it was a good count, I think”

Wendy Fontaine, left, Dustin Westerman and Coral Quon were three of many people who helped conduct a homeless count in Williams Lake on Tuesday, March 10. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Yurri Seterngen, 42, is one of Williams Lake’s homeless. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Surviving homelessness in Williams Lake

Yurri Seterengen, 42, suffers from brain injury and does not have an income

Yurri Seterngen, 42, is one of Williams Lake’s homeless. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Cariboo Friendship Society properties manager Dustin Westerman is co-ordinating a homeless count in Williams Lake, taking place on March 10. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Homeless count taking place March 10 in Williams Lake

Organizer Dustin Westerman hopes the count will include ‘hidden’ homeless

Cariboo Friendship Society properties manager Dustin Westerman is co-ordinating a homeless count in Williams Lake, taking place on March 10. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)