25933 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

I don’t understand how you can maintain that level of data on 70 people. It’s a shelter, which means there’s going to be turnover, and the ratio of staff to shelter residents is likely to be 1:20 at best. I was driving down Esquimalt yesterday and was passed by an ambulance that turned and shot straight for the shelter. Maybe that was the reported overdose?

[spanky123]

Stephanie Hardman is fighting to keep 7x24 camping going....

 

Well one thing that Stephanie has shown is that at $15K a 'door', the team that "refurbished" the centre appeared to have done quite well for themselves. I wonder if that is what happens when you don't tender work?

Edited by spanky123, 05 May 2021 - 08:04 AM.

[Jables]

Somebody on Reddit suggested the name Tweakin' Hill Park which I had a good laugh at despite all of the chaos

[JimV]

Nancy is one of about 10 people who moved into the shelter on its opening day, and more were trickling in Tuesday morning. Outreach workers welcomed them with intake forms, going over the shelter’s rules barring physical violence, weapons, sexual harassment, verbal abuse and drug use in a two-block radius outside of the ­property, among other expectations.

 

________________

 

Beyond two blocks, fill your boots!

[A Girl is No one]

Beyond two blocks, fill your boots!

Yup it’s always the exact same song. They haven’t changed a word in years despite knowing full well (we knew then) that the neighbourhood will suffer. Beyond two blocks they don’t care. They also used to tell us, as if this was reassuring: don’t worry they don’t steal where they live. Never within two blocks. Even that didn’t turn out to be true.

[A Girl is No one]

Somebody on Reddit suggested the name Tweakin' Hill Park which I had a good laugh at despite all of the chaos

Tweaktoria might be more appropriate since it covers most of the city already...

[kitty surprise]

I went to school and college, got a good job and was a success, I might add, to earn my way in this world of ours. From my side of the fence, these recalcitrant squatters that are desecrating our parks should be sent flying.

 

I am using that word on my next Toastmasters word of the day

[North Shore]

 

Helps says after recent violent incidents in Victoria parks, getting everyone housed can’t come soon enough.

 

“When people are not living in parks, it doesn’t attract the kind of violence that can happen,” said Helps. “The inside opportunities can’t come soon enough from everyone’s perspective, including mine.”

 

 

https://www.castanet...est-in-Victoria

 

Yep.  Just like that 'residential building in the 800 block of Johnson St':  No violent incidents have ever happened there

[spanky123]

Just noticed that the TC article states that although the capacity of Russel St is 70, it is being limited to 30! 

 

So how then does BC Housing add 30 + 30 Tiny homes (assuming they are not also limited) and get to 100 people they claim have been offered space? Is this another lie to residents to appease them into believing that 24x7 camping is ending at THP?!

 

https://www.timescol...oors-1.24315266

[Mike K.]

It’ll ramp up to 70 once they get the hang of things, I think.

[A Girl is No one]

Yep. Just like that 'residential building in the 800 block of Johnson St': No violent incidents have ever happened there

She knows full well that crime is going to go up in that neighbourhood. Some people will likely get assaulted and some might even die.
There’s a reason why she’s not having any where she lives.

[Victoria Watcher]

Just noticed that the TC article states that although the capacity of Russel St is 70, it is being limited to 30! 

 

So how then does BC Housing add 30 + 30 Tiny homes (assuming they are not also limited) and get to 100 people they claim have been offered space? Is this another lie to residents to appease them into believing that 24x7 camping is ending at THP?!

 

https://www.timescol...oors-1.24315266

 

i'm guessing it's a COVID thing.  but not sure how long we keep using that.  i understand that many homeless refuse the vaccines but then they should not be allowed in the shelter.

[spanky123]

i'm guessing it's a COVID thing. but not sure how long we keep using that. i understand that many homeless refuse the vaccines but then they should not be allowed in the shelter.

Ok but wouldn’t it have been a covid thing last week when Eby told us that 100 people were moving into Russell and tiny homes? Will covid be the excuse then for not enforcing 24*7 camping?

[Nparker]

...Will covid be the excuse then for not enforcing 24/7 camping?

I am sure it will be one of the excuses.

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Kelowna's new designated homeless camping location opened Wednesday evening.

 

"The new site is larger (and) purpose-built. The ground itself is more amenable to overnight camping and the use of tent pegs and the like. It's less exposed and we're optimistic that it will be used more by those who need to shelter outdoors in our community," said Kelowna community safety director Darren Caul.

 

The new shelter location isn't far from the old one, only a few hundred metres down the rail trail near the corner of Richter Street and Weddell Place. It is now surrounded by bushes and trees that provide shelter and privacy, in addition to running water and extra security.

 

"CCTV cameras are fixed on that site. (We have) more than doubled the number of hours of private security who are on the site and immediately around the site."

 

Drone video of the new site located between Canada Post and the Rail Trail shows the work done to build a berm, add trees, grass and foliage to help separate the location from the rail trail.

 

Caul says it's too early to tell whether the new site will be used more by those who need it, but he indicated the city is already looking forward to the day when the site will be converted into a small park or sitting area.

 

VIDEO:   https://www.castanet...en-after-moving

 

 

it's open every day from 6pm to 9am.  bylaw and RCMP show up before 9am to make sure everyone "de-camps" daily.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 May 2021 - 12:13 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Vancouver taxpayers on hook for at least $3.5 million for Oppenheimer homeless camp

 

One year after an 18-month homeless encampment at Oppenheimer Park was cleared as part of the province’s COVID-19 response, we are getting a closer look at the multi-million dollar bill Vancouver taxpayers are facing. Kristen Robinson reports.

https://globalnews.c...-homeless-camp/

[Victoria Watcher]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proposed $12 billion in new funding to get more people experiencing homelessness in the state into housing and to “functionally end family homelessness” within five years.

 

Newsom's plan was announced in a statement and he was expected to provide more details at a media event Tuesday morning in San Diego County. The first-term Democrat faces a recall election, mounted by Republicans and others unhappy with the way he has handled the pandemic, the economy and government.

 

The nation’s most populous state has an estimated 161,000 people experiencing homelessness, which is more than any other state.

 

 

 

https://thinkpol.ca/...tates-homeless/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 May 2021 - 06:23 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. Premier asked to intervene in Penticton homeless shelter dispute

Mayor sends letter urging premier to reconsider Eby’s use of paramountcy powers

 

https://www.kelownac...helter-dispute/

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Premier Horgan,

I am writing on behalf of the citizens of Penticton urging you to resolve the impasse between City residents and the Attorney General and Minister of Housing, David Eby. Penticton voters have expressed overwhelming support in two surveys for you to step in and work with City Council to correct the Minister’s handling of a temporary winter shelter located in the downtown core.

Penticton residents care about housing for those in need. The proof is evident from our past experience working with Provincial Ministers and BC Housing. Our city of 33,000 helps provide 1,906 provincially-funded units of non-market housing. This housing is the result of positive partnerships that reflect the very spirit of your own commitment to work with local municipalities.

However, under Minister Eby’s leadership, your government has changed course on cooperating with local communities. The Minister has misinformed British Columbians by inferring that Penticton is not doing its part in supportive housing. This is despite his own Ministry’s data indicating that Penticton has the highest number of supportive beds per capita in the B.C. interior.

Your government has been silent on the negative impact the shelter has had on vulnerable senior citizens, particularly on two seniors’ residences directly across the street. A crime density map shows that the shelter at 352 Winnipeg Street has become the epicentre for property crime in Penticton. This is a costly drain on police, fire and bylaw resources as well as being harmful to surrounding residents and businesses.

Your government has not been silent, however, on provoking and polarizing legitimate concerns. Minister Eby threatened to bring 1,000 tents and sleeping bags into the City when the shelter’s permit for lawful use in winter expired. It is odd that the Province’s top lawyer is silent on protecting vulnerable senior citizens from crime but vocal on encouraging Provincial action which directly inflicts such crime on those same senior citizens.

While there’s never a problem-free shelter location, integrating a shelter into surrounding neighbourhoods can be successful when Provincial leadership listens to the public and local concerns. Solving problems for one group should never bring harm or risk of safety to another. The goal should be to work together to find a better shelter location.

Penticton’s united City Council, along with thousands of residents who share our concerns, do not believe that your government is listening. We hope you will. We request your intervention to ensure the Province returns to working in partnership with Penticton and other municipalities to solve the housing issues. What may work in Victoria for temporary housing does not necessarily work for the rest of B.C.

As a start, please reconsider Minister Eby’s threat to invoke Provincial paramountcy to maintain an unlawful use of the shelter and instead direct BC Housing to apply solutions already suggested by City staff to find a better location, as Penticton Council requested in October 2020.

Respectfully,

John Vassilaki Mayor of Penticton

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 May 2021 - 08:50 AM.

[Nparker]

...What may work in Victoria for temporary housing does not necessarily work for the rest of B.C...

It doesn't work in Victoria either. Sadly, the CoV has a council that has little to no concern for many of the people they are supposed to represent.

[A Girl is No one]

It doesn't work in Victoria either. Sadly, the CoV has a council that has little to no concern for many of the people they are supposed to represent.

Exactly....