Category Archives: Housing

Housing

Unions Criticize Vancouver’s Continuing Tent Sweeps

By  Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vancouver’s continuing efforts to remove tents from the Downtown Eastside has drawn criticism from some unions and many of the  municipality’s own workers.   

Unions representing  hospital staff, shelter workers and even employees who began clearing  the tents on East Hastings Street on April 5 have condemned the approach  of city and police, saying it left displaced residents in an even more  desperate situation. 

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Housing

Provincial response to tiny homes resolution elicits disappointment

By Rachelle Stein-Wotten, Gabriola Sounder, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Local elected representatives are disappointed in the province’s response to appeals to address local government’s concerns around supporting tiny homes as an affordable housing option.

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Development, Housing, Indigenous Nations, Tourism

New Trails at Rainbow Ridge; Klahoose Wilderness Resort a Success

[interview with Suzanne Fletcher]

Suzanne Fletcher has lived on Cortes eight years, coming to the island initially to take up a management position at Hollyhock. She has since served on the Co-op Board, “done a lot of gardening,” and most recently spent a summer as Resort Manager for Klahoose Wilderness Resort before accepting the Project Manager position for Rainbow Ridge, with the Cortes Housing Society.

On April 8th, I interviewed Suzanne at her home on Siskin Lane; she told me a little bit about the very successful inaugural season at the Wilderness Resort, and also provided an update on progress at Rainbow Ridge.

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Housing

Unhoused displaced from DTES encampment due to City of Vancouver ‘safety concerns’

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

With concerns for ‘fire, life and safety’ the City of Vancouver, with help from the Vancouver Police Department are conducting a sweep in an effort to close an illegal encampment where approximately 80 tent structures stand along Hastings Street in the city’s notorious Downtown Eastside.

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Housing, Indigenous Nations

Homeless allege harassment, while Victoria’s bylaw ensures the ‘safe passage of people’

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

Victoria, BC – In the wake of an unsuccessful legal challenge against the City of Victoria’s bylaw department – a case that a tribunal called “extraordinary” for municipal enforcement – members of the city’s unhoused community hosted a rally on March 10 to share the challenges they face.

Niki Ottosen is founder of the Backpack Project in Victoria, an organization that provides supplies like tents, sleeping bags, clothing, and food to Victoria’s homeless. 

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