25933 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

..“We know from best practice that smaller sites work better,” Helps said. “That makes all the difference in terms of impact to neighbours.”...

Perhaps Her Worseship can explain how the tiny "homes" village, Capital City Centre and Paul's Motor inn, within 3 blocks of each other, will have minimal impact on their neighbours. Strange how none of the shelters have found their way into Fernwood.

[JimV]

 

Asked about possible concerns from surrounding neighbours, Mayor Lisa Helps said the city thinks they’ve done it right this time. 

 

I am reassured by the mayor’s words.  Apart from a few hundred people still camping in the parks nearly all the homeless will soon be housed in well regulated supportive housing.  We know from experience that most will embrace the opportunity to overcome their substance abuse and mental health issues.  I’m sure the local residents will welcome their new neighbours and are eager to engage them in mutually beneficial dialogue.

[Victoria Watcher]

I am reassured by the mayor’s words.  Apart from a few hundred people still camping in the parks nearly all the homeless will soon be housed in well regulated supportive housing.  We know from experience that most will embrace the opportunity to overcome their substance abuse and mental health issues.  I’m sure the local residents will welcome their new neighbours and are eager to engage them in mutually beneficial dialogue.

 

you're crazy if you think there is going to be dialogue.

 

 

Each container is outfitted with a bed, chair, wardrobe and mini fridge, and all 30 residents will share washroom and storage facilities and planter boxes for growing vegetables.

 

 

they will be too busy gardening!

[Mike K.]

BC Housing's acquisition of 500 (what would otherwise be) affordable rooms just removes those from the market and forces more competition (ie higher prices) for the inventory that remains. As others have pointed out, their willingness to pay 5-6x market value for other affordable accommodations just drives everything else up as well.

If we’re talking about hotel rooms, I think they’re only considered affordable for a part of the year, and that’s only if they’re rented for longer periods. Among them I don’t think there were too many full-time rentals.

[Mike K.]

Perhaps Her Worseship can explain how the tiny "homes" village, Capital City Centre and Paul's Motor inn, within 3 blocks of each other, will have minimal impact on their neighbours. Strange how none of the shelters have found their way into Fernwood.

Is the Boys & Girls Club building adjacent to the fire hall not some type of temporary housing?

[Victoria Watcher]

Helps said the deadline remains in effect, but there will be a grace period for those who have accepted a housing offer and are waiting for their rooms to be finished at the Tiny Homes Village or a new transitional housing site at 225 Russell St. in Vic West.

 

“We’re going to be taking an individualized approach to enforcement, so if somebody has an offer to move into a tiny home or a hotel room or the Russell Street transitional housing area, they won’t be asked to take their tents down as long as they’re intending to go inside,” she said.

 

“Once those spaces open, we hope that people will move in.”

 

For those who refuse to move inside, ­enforcement will begin this weekend, she said. “People will need to take their tents down in the morning, put them back up at night.”

 

The Russell Street facility is set to open next week, she said.

 

Victoria city council permitted all-day ­camping in parks after the COVID-19 pandemic forced shelters to close or reduce the number of beds due to physical-distancing requirements.

 

But the provincial government has since purchased and leased a number of hotels and other spaces so there are now enough places for people to move indoors, Helps said.

 

“I know these transitions are difficult for everyone, but a park is not a campground,” she said.

 

City bylaw staff will be enforcing the new rules and the city has indicated that it’s prepared to seek court injunctions if necessary.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ylaw-1.24313461

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 April 2021 - 05:29 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Start the repair by removing the sign

 

Here is a concise recent history of homelessness in Victoria: A few years ago, there was a small, Victoria-sized problem; now there is a huge, too-big-for-Victoria mess.

 

What happened? Some local messiah-wannabes decided to “solve” the small problem. Who can forget the mayor’s declaration, ‘We’re going to make homelessness history!’

 

How’s that working out?

 

Now, in addition to the giant problem, we have its complements of unsafe parks, distressed neighbourhoods, and crime — including violent resistance to attempts at policing.

 

In her April 27 commentary, Victoria Coun. Sarah Potts, while casting blame at others, proclaimed that by next month the problem will be solved. I bet she’s off by about a mile, but in any case, we should know soon.

 

For now, the first need is to stop it from getting worse. Taking down the “Homeless come here” sign would be a good start.

 

Michel Murray
Saanich

 

https://www.timescol...-pay-1.24313485

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 April 2021 - 05:32 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

capital daily:

 

 

 

Sheltering deadline arrives with more than 100 people yet to be housed

 

Today is the province and the City of Victoria’s updated deadline to house all people sheltering in city parks, but the goal will not be met until mid-May. This is largely due to construction delays which have pushed back the openings of 2 shelters. Shelter spaces in the Vic West area on Russell Street will open next week, while the Royal Athletic Park tiny home village will open to residents on May 12. Combined, they will house approximately 100 people. Housing Minister David Eby told CHEK that everyone will be offered a housing space by the end of the day today.

Currently, there are 103 people on the housing wait list and 163 spaces which will be available for those people, CHEK reported, leaving a little bit of wiggle room. However, the lease at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, where 52 spaces are located, is set to expire at the end of May.

On Saturday, the city will also reinstate the bylaw prohibiting daytime camping in parks, but anyone who has been promised a spot by BC Housing will be exempt.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 April 2021 - 07:15 AM.

[JimV]

you're crazy if you think there is going to be dialogue.

 

 

 

they will be too busy gardening!

Well, I’m thinking that after a busy morning tending their crops and flower beds, a short break for a free lunch, and then an afternoon updating their resumes and filling out job applications the new residents will be ready for some down time.  What could be more satisfying than some convivial conversation with the neighbours.  While they’re chatting the newcomers can note the status of gate and window locks and the location of various items in local yards.  That way they will notice any suspicious activity at night and can notify the authorities.  Sort of like volunteer watchmen.  It should work out great for everyone.

[Victoria Watcher]

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Vancouver says a tent encampment in Strathcona Park has come to a close as the majority of people who had been sleeping there have now moved into government-organized accommodations.

 

An April 9 order by the city's park board set Friday morning as the deadline for campers to remove all tents and structures, which were set up after the Vancouver Port Authority won a court injunction requiring them to leave nearby Crab Park.

 

https://www.timescol...city-1.24313760

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 April 2021 - 01:58 PM.

[On the Level]

^ Does anyone truly believe that much effort will be made at fixing this?  We are about to go into the summer months where tenting becomes more attractive.  Dubow, Potts and Isitt will be working behind the scenes to sabotage any attempt to prevent 7x24 camping in BHP.  

[Victoria Watcher]

This Victoria nonprofit documentary group provides a platform for unhoused people to tell their own stories

 

The Existence Project’s latest documentary, 'Moving Day,' will follow the experiences of unhoused Beacon Hill Park inhabitants as 24/7 camping comes to an end

 

 

https://www.capitald...eacon-hill-park

[Nparker]

Note that one source of funding for the Existence Project is the City of Victoria.

Once again, my tax dollars hard at work. 

[A Girl is No one]

The City of Vancouver says a tent encampment in Strathcona Park has come to a close as the majority of people who had been sleeping there have now moved into government-organized accommodations.

An April 9 order by the city's park board set Friday morning as the deadline for campers to remove all tents and structures, which were set up after the Vancouver Port Authority won a court injunction requiring them to leave nearby Crab Park.

https://www.timescol...city-1.24313760

The balance will just migrate to Victoria...

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. Housing, which estimates there are 220 people staying overnight in Victoria area parks, has been making the rounds of the parks this week offering placement for about 100 people.

 

The agency said it’s difficult to estimate how many people will refuse places in the new shelters, but reported seven people moved from parks to shelter on Thursday.

 

It noted that more than 300 shelter spaces will open soon, including at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre and the recently purchased Capital City Center Hotel.

 

Helps said reinstating the camping bylaw and moving people to shelter is about getting people inside and onto a path to permanent housing.

 

“We want them to take these offers of shelter, and as people move inside to Russell or the tiny homes or the arena or whatever, they will be guaranteed a permanent home coming out the other side,” she said.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...arns-1.24313881

 

 

 

 

aren't the arena and the capital hotel already being used?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 May 2021 - 05:06 AM.

[Barrrister]

How much are all these "permanent " homes going to cost and is the city on the hook for all this? It just sounds like a "permanent" anchor to drug addiction for these poor souls.

[Victoria Watcher]

vancouver:

 

 

 

 

The Park Board says a small number of tents and temporary shelters remain in the park and officials are working with the remaining people on other options.

 

However, encampment resident Athena Pranteau says she and others have no plans to leave.

 

“I’ll be staying here as long as everyone else stays here, because not everybody wants to live in supportive housing or an SRO.”

 

Vancouver Park Board General Manager Donnie Rosa says campers will be able to access their belongings throughout the weekend, with staff fencing off the area and controlling access in and out. The Park Board is hopeful all remaining campers will leave the park on their own, and did not specify what actions would be taken against anyone who refuses to leave.

 

Camp organizers are frustrated with how the eviction is playing out. Fiona York says all levels of government have rushed the process, without adequate consultation with campers. She says some people have found themselves in housing that doesn’t meet their needs.

 

“We had people go into housing days ago, they still come to the park every day to see their friends and play chess and have their social life. Some of those things are what we would hope to see go into housing in the future.”

 

 

 

 

https://bc.ctvnews.c...dline-1.5408923

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 May 2021 - 06:13 AM.

[kitty surprise]

 

“We had people go into housing days ago, they still come to the park every day to see their friends and play chess and have their social life. Some of those things are what we would hope to see go into housing in the future.”

 

https://bc.ctvnews.c...dline-1.5408923

 

Play chess? Really? Come on now.

 

For the record, I have not seen any reports of chess-playing shenanigans here.

[Victoria Watcher]

Play chess? Really? Come on now.

 

For the record, I have not seen any reports of chess-playing shenanigans here.

 

free housing is stifling their social lives.  how insensitive of the taxpayers.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 May 2021 - 06:39 AM.