Tag Archives: Homelessness

Housing

Town Bylaw change to allow overnight sheltering for Smithers’ homeless population

By Pamela Haasen, Smithers Community Radio CICK 93.9 FM, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

The town of Smithers is reviewing a 94 year old bylaw regarding temporary  overnight sheltering options in 12 areas of town-owned land. 

The areas are: Veterans Peace Park, Heritage Park, Elks Park, Pacific Street and Tatlow Road, Dogwood Park, Ranger Park, Tatlow Road North, The Fall Fair grounds, Central Park, Riverside Park, vacant lots at Queen Street and Alfred Avenue, and vacant 3 lots at 3873 4th Avenue.

Residents who live within 60 meters of any of the aforementioned sites received a letter indicating this possible the bylaw change.

Continue reading Town Bylaw change to allow overnight sheltering for Smithers’ homeless population →
Housing

‘Staggering’ number of first-time users during holidays, says Salvation Army

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vancouver Island, BC – This past holiday season saw what seemed like endless snow filling communities throughout Vancouver Island. As the snow fell, the social services sectors worked hard through the month tending to weather and holiday needs of vulnerable people. 

Among some services that were needed was the Salvation Army’s emergency weather response program, which provides extra mats in shelters to meet the demands of unhoused folks.

Continue reading ‘Staggering’ number of first-time users during holidays, says Salvation Army →
Housing, Politics

Housing on Cortes: an Interview with Mark Vonesch (part two)

Currents interviewed Mark Vonesch in early December. This is the second half of that interview, in which we dig a lot more deeply into issues related to housing on Cortes and in the local area: homelessness, employment, property values, AirBnB and much more.

We present here some excerpts from nearly 30 minutes of audio. Our interview covered quite a bit more ground: homelessness in Campbell River, and their approach to it; property tax structures and how they could be made more equitable; the related issue of a real estate market in which, as with rent, locals cannot compete with tourists and rusticators; the fundamental problem of treating housing as a speculative investment commodity. We recommend listening to the entire podcast for the most complete information.

Continue reading Housing on Cortes: an Interview with Mark Vonesch (part two) →
Housing, Opinion

A New Approach to Homelessness: Housing First

As Currents recently reported, homelessness is not just “an American thing,” or “a big-city thing,” or even “a Vancouver Island thing.”  Homelessness is also here on Cortes, where a recent survey found that about 50 people rated their housing situation as “unstable,” and 11 were living rough (with no permanent shelter, in tents or other makeshift accommodation).

Although “housing” might sound like a single issue, it has has knock-on effects throughout our community.

Continue reading A New Approach to Homelessness: Housing First →
Housing

The Campbell River Coalition to End Homelessness Responds

(Editor’s note: While the events described in this article did not take place in the Discovery Islands, the Directors for Cortes Island and Area C both voted in the SRD Board meeting mentioned below. Also, we are part of the ‘District’ that the Campbell River and District Coalition to End Homelessness operates in.)

Last week, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board decided to step back from involving themselves in Campbell River’s emergency shelter. They were responding to a request from the Campbell River and District Coalition to End Homelessness. The Board considered two options: (A) they could give staff direction to explore what this would entail, or (B) they could inform the Coalition they are not prepared to take on the responsibility of operating homeless shelters. After 42 minutes of a somewhat confused debate that ended in a 7-7 vote, they chose option (B).   

Cortes Currents reached out to the Coalition for comment while writing up an account of the meeting, but neither Stefanie Hendrickson, the Coalition’s Coordinator, or Sue Moen, from the Salvation Army, were available until the afternoon of Monday, November 14, 2022. Both women responded by email. 

Continue reading The Campbell River Coalition to End Homelessness Responds →