The City of Vancouver says hundreds have been turned away from temporary winter shelters since December. In a release, Mayor Gregor Robertson says the solution is more shelter space and more housing. That issue of affordable housing is echoed by Irene Jaakson, co-ordinator of the Vancouver Extreme Weather Response Program. "The only thing that's … [Read more...]
More Shelters Set to Open
December 29, 2012 by
Vision Vancouver Councillor Kerry Jang admits inspite of the goal to stamp out homelessness there will always be a need for shelter space. Jang says circumstances change, economies change and poverty is still an issue in BC so he says there will always be people on the street who need help. Meanwhile the Province is getting set to open emergency … [Read more...]
Vancouver getting 4 new cold-weather shelters
October 23, 2012 by
The Province and City of Vancouver have announced a deal to open four new temporary winter shelters. These shelters will provide 160 spaces for the homeless between the end of November and next May, and the "Raincity Housing and Support Society" will run them. The Provincial Government is contributing 1.6 million dollars while the City is providing … [Read more...]
Vancouver Council set to approve more money for shelters
July 21, 2012 by
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is urging city council to approve grant money, aimed at improving shelter options for women and aboriginals. Grants totalling $ 600-thousand are likely to be approved on Wednesday. Vision Councillor Kerry Jang says the money will go to two organizations. "We're putting half a million dollars to St. James to … [Read more...]
More homeless people checking into shelters
February 29, 2012 by
The final results of the Metro Vancouver regional district’s 2011 Homelessness Count reveal more families and youth are ending up on the streets or in shelters. While the number of homeless people in the region remains virtually unchanged from the previous count in 2008, the makeup of the 2,650 people without a permanent home is starting to … [Read more...]
Doors open at extreme weather shelters
December 5, 2011 by
The B.C. government has agreed to fund another 80 winter-shelter spaces after Mayor Gregor Robertson called the situation “deplorable” last week. Housing advocate Judy Graves said shelter spaces are coming at a critical time after extreme-weather-response shelters were activated on the weekend. “We’ve come a long way since last week, and I’m … [Read more...]
Shelters available for homeless to use
November 22, 2011 by
His government has been criticized for leaving homeless people out in the cold....but Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman says a lot of shelter beds in Vancouver went empty this weekend, despite the cold weather, "In Vancouver, the additional shelter space we have is only at 50 per-cent capacity." CKNW: "Why would that be?" RC: "Well, … [Read more...]
Again, HEAT shelters need funding
October 11, 2011 by
A Vancouver City Councillor is hoping funding from the Province for the seasonal, low-barrier HEAT shelters will come sooner rather than later. Kerry Jang says the city has had to go to the province every year for the funding and the money doesn't come at the same time every year, and sometimes not until snow is already falling. He says … [Read more...]
