Homelessness

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 Chilliwack twice a year to find her homeless son

‘I spent time with him, and that has to be enough’

 

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 Abbotsford and Maple Ridge

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

 

Homeless camp on fire beside the Vedder River. (Streams Foundation photo)

Homeless camp torched under the Vedder River bridge near Chilliwack

Volunteers told not to return to Sweltzer Creek camp given toxic fumes, charred trash

 

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
Shelters in Abbotsford took in 250 people on Monday night, as a winter storm brought more than 20 cm of snow and temperatures dipped to nearly -20 C. There is no warming shelter during the day in Abbotsford, and the storm is expected to last until Friday. Pictured is the 5 and 2 Ministries shelter for older adults in Abbotsford on Dec. 20. (Submitted/Jesse Wegenast)

‘A sea of mats’: Abbotsford extreme weather shelters run overcapacity through winter storm

Extreme weather response coordinator calling on EMBC and city to open daytime warming spaces

Shelters in Abbotsford took in 250 people on Monday night, as a winter storm brought more than 20 cm of snow and temperatures dipped to nearly -20 C. There is no warming shelter during the day in Abbotsford, and the storm is expected to last until Friday. Pictured is the 5 and 2 Ministries shelter for older adults in Abbotsford on Dec. 20. (Submitted/Jesse Wegenast)
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
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
Dana Martin (left), Sandy Mather (right) of Soroptomist International of Chilliwack gathered at The Rendezvous restaurant Wednesday (Nov. 16) to assemble and fill Christmas packs for unhoused women. (Eric J. Welsh/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack service club packs Christmas gift bags for women experiencing homelessness

‘We’re grateful for these comforts to provide to people in our community,’ says Fraser Health official

Dana Martin (left), Sandy Mather (right) of Soroptomist International of Chilliwack gathered at The Rendezvous restaurant Wednesday (Nov. 16) to assemble and fill Christmas packs for unhoused women. (Eric J. Welsh/ Chilliwack Progress)
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
People who are experiencing homelessness in White Rock and South Surrey say they are often made to feel unwelcome in the community. Unhoused people and their advocates across the Semiahmoo Peninsula say that a homeless shelter would be only one step in addressing homelessness. (Tricia Weel photo)

Unhoused and unwelcome: Homeless community feeling marginalized in Lower Mainland

Second in series: Concerns in mental health, addictions need attention

People who are experiencing homelessness in White Rock and South Surrey say they are often made to feel unwelcome in the community. Unhoused people and their advocates across the Semiahmoo Peninsula say that a homeless shelter would be only one step in addressing homelessness. (Tricia Weel photo)
Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Auditor General will table several reports on Tuesday that will assess the government’s performance on a range of issues, including reducing chronic homelessness.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

VIDEO: Feds don’t know if they’re reducing homelessness, says auditor general

Hogan says lack of outcome accountability characterizes 1.36 billion housing effort

Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Auditor General will table several reports on Tuesday that will assess the government’s performance on a range of issues, including reducing chronic homelessness.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Joe Roberts (The Skid Row CEO) spoke at the annual Character Abbotsford conference at Abbotsford secondary school on Oct. 20, and met with conference attendees afterward. He will be back in Abbotsford on Nov. 29 for Hope in the Valley. (Submitted photo)

‘Skid row CEO’ Joe Roberts back in Abbotsford for beneficial brunch

Salvation Army hosting Hope in the Valley with popular guest speaker

Joe Roberts (The Skid Row CEO) spoke at the annual Character Abbotsford conference at Abbotsford secondary school on Oct. 20, and met with conference attendees afterward. He will be back in Abbotsford on Nov. 29 for Hope in the Valley. (Submitted photo)
Seven of 247 homeless deaths in B.C. in 2021 were from Chilliwack. (Black Press file)

Seven of 247 homeless deaths in B.C. recorded in 2021 were from Chilliwack

‘Report report reflects the risks and realities that people experiencing homelessness face every day’

Seven of 247 homeless deaths in B.C. in 2021 were from Chilliwack. (Black Press file)
The interim tag has been removed for new Ruth and Naomi’s executive director Scott Gaglardi. (Ruth and Naomi’s photo)

Scott Gaglardi new executive director at Chilliwack’s Ruth and Naomi’s Mission

Gaglardi had been serving as interim ED following the abrupt resignation of Joe Pienaar

The interim tag has been removed for new Ruth and Naomi’s executive director Scott Gaglardi. (Ruth and Naomi’s photo)
File photo.

‘Highly intoxicated’ teenagers in Campbell River incite brawls with city’s downtown homeless: RCMP

‘Recipe for distaster’

File photo.
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. BC Housing says 40 people who were living in a Downtown Eastside street encampment being cleared by city workers have accepted offers of accommodation. The agency’s vice-president of operations Dale McCann was speaking at a City Hall press conference today where Mayor Kennedy Stewart reported “good progress” clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

40 residents of Vancouver street camp accept accommodation: BC Housing

Workers removing two tonnes of material per day from the encampment on East 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. BC Housing says 40 people who were living in a Downtown Eastside street encampment being cleared by city workers have accepted offers of accommodation. The agency’s vice-president of operations Dale McCann was speaking at a City Hall press conference today where Mayor Kennedy Stewart reported “good progress” clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
In the fight against homelessness, provincial funding is going to a pilot project dubbed ‘Day Shelter, Training & Indigenous Supports.’ (Black Press file)

Chilliwack gets provincial funding for day shelter pilot project

The NDP has earmarked $655,185 for a pilot project dubbed ‘Day Shelter, Training & Indigenous Supports’

In the fight against homelessness, provincial funding is going to a pilot project dubbed ‘Day Shelter, Training & Indigenous Supports.’ (Black Press file)
Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street as the city works to clear tents from a sprawling homeless encampment in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. People living in a growing street encampment along a busy street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside have been handed notices advising that the tents and other structures are about to be removed. The city’s fire chief issued an order last month requiring the tents be cleared because of an extreme fire safety hazard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Threatening flyers distributed throughout Vancouver tent encampment: police

Vancouver police say flyers contained threats to burn down tents with gasoline and propane

Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street as the city works to clear tents from a sprawling homeless encampment in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. People living in a growing street encampment along a busy street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside have been handed notices advising that the tents and other structures are about to be removed. The city’s fire chief issued an order last month requiring the tents be cleared because of an extreme fire safety hazard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, where city workers started efforts to clear the encampment on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. The city’s fire chief issued an order last month requiring the tents be cleared because of an extreme fire safety hazard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

As Vancouver begins removing tent encampment, residents wonder where they should go

Heavy police presence and resident concern as city staff set to work Tuesday

Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, where city workers started efforts to clear the encampment on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. The city’s fire chief issued an order last month requiring the tents be cleared because of an extreme fire safety hazard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck