Housing and Homelessness

(Marth Wickett/Black Press Media file photo)

More people expected to be sheltering on Kelowna streets this winter

City has applied for provincial funding to support Kelowna’s extreme cold weather project

 

Kelowna’s tent city garnered national attention after twee by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Poilievre’s depiction of Kelowna’s tent city ‘disappointing’, says safety director

‘This issue is one that cities across the province and in fact across the country’

 

The provincial government closed several loopholes involving children in 55-plus stratas. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. government closes loopholes around children in 55-plus strata buildings

BC United MLA says government was architect of its own mistakes

 

Residents of Kelowna’s Tent City talk about what would help with cleanliness at the encampment. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna encampment ‘spring cleaning’ has residents asking for basic sanitation

Residents of Tent City need running water and showers to keep clean

Residents of Kelowna’s Tent City talk about what would help with cleanliness at the encampment. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
FVRD Chair Jason Lum attending the UBCM Housing Summit on April 4, 2023. (UBCM video screenshot)

B.C. has to find solution for homelessness in rural areas, says regional district chair

‘Make sure it’s not a one-size-fits-all,’ Jason Lum said aboutB.C. plan for encampment teams

FVRD Chair Jason Lum attending the UBCM Housing Summit on April 4, 2023. (UBCM video screenshot)
Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. A 2022-23 survey by Atira Women’s Resource Society suggests unhoused women living in the area have few safe housing options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Sexual violence rampant amid lack of housing options for homeless Vancouver women: survey

50 Downtown Eastside respondents all reported enduring violence, sexual assault

Tents line the sidewalk on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. A 2022-23 survey by Atira Women’s Resource Society suggests unhoused women living in the area have few safe housing options. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
'Hostile design' curved bench on Bernard Ave. that prevents people from laying down. (Google Maps)

‘At least have a bench to sleep on’: Charity calls out hostile design in Kelowna

Anti-homeless architecture prevents people from laying down and adds ‘insult to injury’

'Hostile design' curved bench on Bernard Ave. that prevents people from laying down. (Google Maps)
Prior to March 15, the City of Salmon Arm will be moving the remaining tenters on 3rd Street SW to city-owned property at 350 Narcisse St. in Salmon Arm. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm to move remaining tenters to city-owned property near park

City decides in in-camera meeting to move tenters to Narcisse Street

Prior to March 15, the City of Salmon Arm will be moving the remaining tenters on 3rd Street SW to city-owned property at 350 Narcisse St. in Salmon Arm. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
City council decided on Feb. 27 that a tent encampment on 3rd Street SW, across from the Salvation Army building in Salmon Arm, must be moved by March 15. (Martha Wickett /Salmon Arm Observer)

Time to go: Tent encampment in Salmon Arm must be moved by March 15

City council makes decision on timeline after receiving letters from neighbours

City council decided on Feb. 27 that a tent encampment on 3rd Street SW, across from the Salvation Army building in Salmon Arm, must be moved by March 15. (Martha Wickett /Salmon Arm Observer)
People who were living in tents in Salmon Arm or staying at night in an insulated, heated sea can on the side of 3rd Street SW now have the option of staying overnight in a temporary winter shelter in the Downtown Activity Centre gym, in background. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

4 to 8 people use new emergency shelter in Salmon Arm for first few nights, opinions mixed

City to dismantle tent encampment this week across from Salvation Army building

People who were living in tents in Salmon Arm or staying at night in an insulated, heated sea can on the side of 3rd Street SW now have the option of staying overnight in a temporary winter shelter in the Downtown Activity Centre gym, in background. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
The new temporary winter shelter at the Downtown Activity Centre, 451 Shuswap St. S in Salmon Arm, will be open seven days a week, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., from Jan. 19 to April 30. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

New temporary shelter in Salmon Arm to address residents’ concerns

Hours, access in building set up to meet needs of worried tenants and parents

The new temporary winter shelter at the Downtown Activity Centre, 451 Shuswap St. S in Salmon Arm, will be open seven days a week, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., from Jan. 19 to April 30. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
Salmon Arm’s Downtown Activity Centre will be the site of a temporary shelter until April 30, 2023. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Long-awaited announcement by BC Housing on emergency shelter for Salmon Arm

Shelter to be open at Downtown Activity Centre from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily

Salmon Arm’s Downtown Activity Centre will be the site of a temporary shelter until April 30, 2023. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
The survey, conducted by Henluk Consulting Ltd., gathered information from people who are homeless, living on the streets, living in emergency shelters, and those at risk of homelessness. (Black Press file photo)

People accessing help in West Kelowna just want food and warmth: Survey

Approximately 77 per cent of respondents said they accessed services for shelter, food, and clothing

The survey, conducted by Henluk Consulting Ltd., gathered information from people who are homeless, living on the streets, living in emergency shelters, and those at risk of homelessness. (Black Press file photo)
Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)

His last words were ‘I love you’: Sister mourns brother found dead in northern B.C. tent

Richard Nelson, a Tsimshian and Nisga’a man living on the streets of Terrace, found dead in -20 weather

Richard Nelson, who belonged to the Nisga’a Eagle Clan, will be remembered as a loving brother by his family and as a father figure by the Terrace homeless community. (Submitted photo/Diana Guno)
A sea can with a generator, along with two porta potties, were delivered to 3rd Street SE on Tuesday night, Dec. 20, near the tent encampment on the east side of the street. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘It’s so wrong’: Inaction as temperature drops spurs Salmon Arm resident to set up sea can shelter

Concerned citizens provide heated space, porta potties for people without homes

A sea can with a generator, along with two porta potties, were delivered to 3rd Street SE on Tuesday night, Dec. 20, near the tent encampment on the east side of the street. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
This was a camp where people were living rough in 2019 during cold conditions on the current site of the new section of the Trans-Canada Highway at the west end of Salmon Arm. (File photo)

BC Housing confirms long-awaited lease signed for emergency shelter in Salmon Arm

Shelter to open in early January 2023, Canadian Mental Health Association training staff

This was a camp where people were living rough in 2019 during cold conditions on the current site of the new section of the Trans-Canada Highway at the west end of Salmon Arm. (File photo)
This calendar made up by the Salvation Army shows where meals and services can be found in Salmon Arm for people who need them. (File photo)

Out in the cold: As temperatures plummet, showers at Salmon Arm warming centre appreciated

Café at Lighthouse helpful but 24/7 washrooms, charging stations for emergency calls needed

This calendar made up by the Salvation Army shows where meals and services can be found in Salmon Arm for people who need them. (File photo)
Amanda Luttman was born and raised in Salmon Arm and ended up living on the streets due to drug addiction. Her message is one of kindness. (Photo contributed)

‘Winters were brutal:’ Recovering drug user urges compassion for others in Salmon Arm

Woman who grew up in Salmon Arm and ended up on the streets wants kindness to prevail

Amanda Luttman was born and raised in Salmon Arm and ended up living on the streets due to drug addiction. Her message is one of kindness. (Photo contributed)
Sandy Bunting, who lives nearby but formerly lived rough, cleans up pieces of wood and things near the tent camp across from the Salvation Army building on Third Street SE. She said there should be a place for people who are homeless to get inside during the freezing temperatures, particularly during the day, so they can warm up and dry out. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘They need to be in’: Woman who lived rough in Salmon Arm worried about people tenting

Shuswap MLA wants lack of emergency shelter treated as an emergency by B.C. government

Sandy Bunting, who lives nearby but formerly lived rough, cleans up pieces of wood and things near the tent camp across from the Salvation Army building on Third Street SE. She said there should be a place for people who are homeless to get inside during the freezing temperatures, particularly during the day, so they can warm up and dry out. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C. man designs ‘turtlepods’ – mobile personal shelter prototypes to assist the unhoused

‘I think of it as supporting urban nomadism.’

Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell