Tag Archives: BC Ministry of Housing

Housing, Poverty

Options ever slimming for unhoused people attached to Pandora

Editor’s note: Greater Victoria’s most recent Point of Time Count, taken on March 7, 2020, found 1,665 people experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness continues to be a problem throughout our region and the rest of British Columbia. When the Cortes Island Housing survery was carried out in 2023, 8 of the 265 respondents were ‘unhoused.’ Point in Time counts in urban areas like Campbell River, the Comox Valley and Powell River found 197, 272 and 126 ‘unhoused’ people, respectively. A quarter of the respondents in Campbell River reported they had been homeless for less than 6 months and the #1 explanation all respondents gave was they did not have enough money to pay rent. 16% of the respondents in Campbell River, 20% in the Comox Valley and 12% in Powell River reported a full or part-me job.

By Sidney Coles, Capital Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After a series of City of Victoria tent-clearing operations along the Pandora corridor in the fall, interlocking blue fencing was installed to deter illegal sheltering along its 900 block. At around the same time, a facility at 926 Pandora used by people to store their belongings was shuttered. 

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Politics

Area C Director’s Report: UBCM, advocacy, island forestry, & well questionnaire

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello, The last week was jam-packed, a blur of learning, meetings, and networking as I attended the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention in Vancouver. UBCM is an opportunity to meet with provincial Ministers and Ministry staff and advocate for local and regional priorities & concerns, as well as learning & listening at workshops, forums & town hall-style events.

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Housing, Politics

Area C Director’s Report: a housing update

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Midsummer greetings!
Housing is an important issue here in Area C, across the region and our province. This report provides a housing-related update on some of what’s happening locally.

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Housing

Non-profit housing fund preserved more than 380 homes on Vancouver Island

By Hope Lompe,  Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than 380 rental homes have been preserved on Vancouver Island for people struggling to keep affordable housing, thanks to an initiative unique to Canada.

Established in British Columbia last year, the Rental Protection Fund allows non-profit organizations to purchase buildings at risk of redevelopment or where tenants likely face significant rent increases. To preserve affordable housing, the fund requires buildings to keep existing occupants.

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Communications, Housing, Indigenous Nations, Waste, Water

Mawhinney reviews 2023 in Area C and looks ahead to 2024

Editor’s note: Some activities that are of interest to Cortes listeners as well are: the fact the proposed SRD housing service is designed to be virtually cost neutral to the electorate and how Quadra ICAN is mapping that island’s aquifers and wetlands, as well as monitoring water levels in a number of wells. 

Robyn Mawhinney has learned a lot since she was elected Regional Director almost 14 months ago. As we enter into yet another new year, she gave her reflections of 2023 and what is ahead for Area C in the coming months.

“I’m really pleased that there are new avenues for having community voices heard and included in decision making,” she began.

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