Homeless

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

 

Bob Galligan holds pictures of his daughter and grandchildren. File photo

Remembering Bob: Face of Comox Valley’s unhoused population dies

Bob Galligan, whose comeback from a hard life made him somewhat of an Island icon, dead at 64

 

Al Smith, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, shows where a homeless person living behind the building plugged in electric bike, a move that blew up the battery of the bicycle and set part of the building on fire. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Charging e-bike battery explodes, sets fire to Vancouver Island building

RCMP took e-biker into custody, after blaze at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

 

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Participants who fundraise $150 or more ($75 for children and youth 17 and under) with receive a CNOY toque – this year’s is bright yellow with a rainbow patch, denoting sunshine and hope despite the winter’s cold. (cnoy.org photo)

Coldest Night of the Year walk returns to Parksville Qualicum Beach for 2022

Participants can partake in group event on Feb. 26

Participants who fundraise $150 or more ($75 for children and youth 17 and under) with receive a CNOY toque – this year’s is bright yellow with a rainbow patch, denoting sunshine and hope despite the winter’s cold. (cnoy.org photo)
Manager of H.E.L.P. Team Boyle Street Community Services Doug Cooke, right, and outreach and support services manager Jared Tkachuk, left, check on a homeless person’s well-being in Edmonton on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

‘Peril or promise’: Long-term solution needed to help homeless in Alberta cities

Homeless shelters are near capacity but open their doors to all when temperatures become unbearable

Manager of H.E.L.P. Team Boyle Street Community Services Doug Cooke, right, and outreach and support services manager Jared Tkachuk, left, check on a homeless person’s well-being in Edmonton on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Victory Church homeless shelter had the highest calls for police service above everywhere else, at 290 calls for service, in the first three months of the year. (Jesse Day Western News)

Penticton drops lawsuit against BC Housing; new shelter proposed

A new shelter will go beside Compass Court and Victory Church shelter will close spring 2022

Victory Church homeless shelter had the highest calls for police service above everywhere else, at 290 calls for service, in the first three months of the year. (Jesse Day Western News)
Parksville’s homeless population will receive extra assistance with temporary indoor shelter this winter. (PQB News file photo)

BC Housing partners with OHEARTS to provide 25 temporary shelter spaces in Parksville

Facility will be open through March 31, 2022

Parksville’s homeless population will receive extra assistance with temporary indoor shelter this winter. (PQB News file photo)
(Black Press file)

Judge reserves decision on Prince George homeless camps

Advocates want resolution as cold weather season approaches

(Black Press file)
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

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

Makeshift cold-weather camp pops up in parking lot of Parksville church

‘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)
The staff at Qualitown Thrift Store in Campbell River pose for a photograph. Every second and fourth monday of the month, they will be welcoming homeless people to come and take things that they need from the store. Binny Paul photo

’Ask and you shall receive,’ store says to homeless Vancouver Islanders

Campbell River thrift store offers free shopping for the homeless to deter theft

The staff at Qualitown Thrift Store in Campbell River pose for a photograph. Every second and fourth monday of the month, they will be welcoming homeless people to come and take things that they need from the store. Binny Paul photo
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
Homeless people in Parksville Qualicum Beach are without a designated cold-weather shelter. (PQB News file photo)

Qualicum Beach council looks to solve area’s cold-weather shelter problem

Harrison: ‘It’s likely that there will be a hard winter for a lot of folks’

Homeless people in Parksville Qualicum Beach are without a designated cold-weather shelter. (PQB News file photo)
Patricia Taylor and Debra Strut at the Salvation Army on Friday, Nov. 27, handing out winter boots and gift bags to those in need. Taylor says they'll be back until all her supplies are gone.(Mandy Moraes photo)

Parksville residents distribute gifts and winter boots in Salvation Army parking lot

‘I’m hoping to open the eyes of the community to realize that everybody has value’

Patricia Taylor and Debra Strut at the Salvation Army on Friday, Nov. 27, handing out winter boots and gift bags to those in need. Taylor says they'll be back until all her supplies are gone.(Mandy Moraes photo)
(File art)

EDITORIAL: Still no solution to Parksville’s cold-weather shelter issues

Who will step up this winter?

(File art)
Qualicum Beach author, Laura Langston, left, next to book cover of ‘No Right Thing’. (Photo submitted)

Crwth Press to donate to Manna Homeless Society for every purchase of ‘No Right Thing’

Book written by Qualicum Beach author Laura Langston

Qualicum Beach author, Laura Langston, left, next to book cover of ‘No Right Thing’. (Photo submitted)
An illustration was given to the Parksville’s Church of the Ascension by a person, in appreciation for allowing use of its shower facility. (Mike Favero/Submitted photo)

Parksville church makes showers available to the homeless

Pastor receives special illustration from one appreciative person

An illustration was given to the Parksville’s Church of the Ascension by a person, in appreciation for allowing use of its shower facility. (Mike Favero/Submitted photo)