homeless housing

Province buys downtown Victoria lots for supportive housing

Province buys downtown Victoria lots for supportive housing

50 new permanent homes proposed for Harris Green properties

Province buys downtown Victoria lots for supportive housing
Victoria city council is recommending that people who have lived in the region for at least a year be prioritized for housing. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Victoria council recommends prioritizing housing for people in the area for at least a year

The motion passed unanimously during committee of the whole meeting

Victoria city council is recommending that people who have lived in the region for at least a year be prioritized for housing. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Tent camp grows rapidly on Pandora Avenue in Victoria after drop-in centres closed due to COVID-19, March 26, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Stop passing the buck on tent camps, Horgan tells municipalities

Victoria, other cities advised to enforce their own bylaws

Tent camp grows rapidly on Pandora Avenue in Victoria after drop-in centres closed due to COVID-19, March 26, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Before the site is developed, the Oak Bay Lodge could become a temporary shelter space. The Capital Regional District has asked staff to explore options for the building, which will sit empty once residents are moved to The Summit at Quadra Village. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

CRD explores option to use Oak Bay Lodge for people who are homeless

Motion asks staff to work with BC Housing, Island Health on possibilities

Before the site is developed, the Oak Bay Lodge could become a temporary shelter space. The Capital Regional District has asked staff to explore options for the building, which will sit empty once residents are moved to The Summit at Quadra Village. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Construction is underway on eight new affordable rental homes at the Hope Centre in Sooke through a partnership between the province and M’akola Housing Society. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

New affordable homes on the way in Sooke

Eight new affordable rental homes to be built at Hope Centre

Construction is underway on eight new affordable rental homes at the Hope Centre in Sooke through a partnership between the province and M’akola Housing Society. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
The Rosebowl Restaurant closed its doors at the end of June, 2020. Photo by Marc Kitteringham - Campbell River Mirror

Restaurant to be converted into housing for people experiencing homelessness

BC Housing buys popular Campbell River eatery for $985,000 to serve as bridge housing

The Rosebowl Restaurant closed its doors at the end of June, 2020. Photo by Marc Kitteringham - Campbell River Mirror
Cynthia Diadick has created a petition to ‘save Beacon Hill Park’ from becoming a tent city as sights like the one pictured become a more common occurrence. (Provided by Cynthia Diadick)

Petition demands Victoria ‘save Beacon Hill Park’

Residents ask City do something to house those camping in Beacon Hill Park

Cynthia Diadick has created a petition to ‘save Beacon Hill Park’ from becoming a tent city as sights like the one pictured become a more common occurrence. (Provided by Cynthia Diadick)
A tent in Centennial Square caught fire on Monday morning. (@busdriverlife/Twitter)

Fire destroys tent in Victoria’s Centennial Square

A bus driver stopped to assist with the blaze before fire crews arrived

A tent in Centennial Square caught fire on Monday morning. (@busdriverlife/Twitter)
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)
The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has been transformed into a 45-bed shelter site for Victoria’s homeless population. (Provided by the B.C. Government)

Homeless shelter at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre creates 40 jobs

The arena can house 45 people in pop-up pods

The Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has been transformed into a 45-bed shelter site for Victoria’s homeless population. (Provided by the B.C. Government)
Fred Cameron stands among the harm reduction supplies that are handed out by SOLID Outreach to those living on Pandora Avenue. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Safe consumption plays critical part in Victoria’s temporary homeless shelters

So far, four hotels have been secured, along with 50 spots in the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Fred Cameron stands among the harm reduction supplies that are handed out by SOLID Outreach to those living on Pandora Avenue. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
The City of Victoria purchased two properties on Pandora Avenue to address affordable housing. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria buys properties on Pandora for almost $10 million

Site is a ‘long-term investment’ as part of the plan to address affordable housing

The City of Victoria purchased two properties on Pandora Avenue to address affordable housing. (Black Press Media file 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)
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)
Nov. 15, 2019 – The Fairfield Hotel at 1601-1609 Douglas St. will no longer be run by Pacifica Housing. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

More people are being evicted from subsidized housing in Victoria, experts say

Closing of Pacifica Housing’s Fairfield Hotel a sign of ongoing trends

Nov. 15, 2019 – The Fairfield Hotel at 1601-1609 Douglas St. will no longer be run by Pacifica Housing. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Nov. 14, 2019– Kelly King, director of communications for Habitat for Humanity Victoria stand in front of some of the participants in this year’s Gingerbread Showcase at the Parkside Hotel and Spa. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

PHOTOS: 11th annual Gingerbread Showcase comes to Victoria

Bakers spent more than 100 hours perfecting their creations

Nov. 14, 2019– Kelly King, director of communications for Habitat for Humanity Victoria stand in front of some of the participants in this year’s Gingerbread Showcase at the Parkside Hotel and Spa. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
A 2.4-metre high fence with spikes on top was installed at the 844 Johnson St. building in 2017. BC Housing did not have a permit to put the fence up, which is double the height permitted by local bylaws. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

‘Fortress-like’ fence keeping Victoria and BC Housing divided

The 2.4-metre fence is double the permitted height and topped with spikes

A 2.4-metre high fence with spikes on top was installed at the 844 Johnson St. building in 2017. BC Housing did not have a permit to put the fence up, which is double the height permitted by local bylaws. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
A man sleeps at vacant commercial property in downtown Victoria. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

More housing, subsidies urged for B.C. poverty reduction plan

Survey respondents want family options, and ‘not just in the ‘hood’

A man sleeps at vacant commercial property in downtown Victoria. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
A shopping cart sits in front of a tent pitched in Beacon Hill Park last summer. The cost of cleaning up after park campers is increasing, according to City parks staff. (News files)

Council approves $200,000 to clean up Victoria parks after homeless campers

Parks staff over budget for cleanup last year

A shopping cart sits in front of a tent pitched in Beacon Hill Park last summer. The cost of cleaning up after park campers is increasing, according to City parks staff. (News files)