28069 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

The count suggests the informal work might include "bottle collecting and panhandling", but yes, some/many also steal stuff.  Then somebody buys it.  I think you rarely hear of anyone arrested for being a fence, or for merch-for-drugs schemes.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 February 2026 - 08:41 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The medical health officer for Cowichan and local community health partners are calling on North Cowichan’s mayor and council to find safer sheltering conditions for unhoused individuals, saying it’s leading to increased risks of preventable health issues to the community and the surrounding area.

 

On Wednesday night’s agenda, North Cowichan’s mayor and council will discuss two letters regarding the current sheltering conditions for unhoused individuals since the municipality closed a homeless encampment on Lewis Street back in November 2025.

 

“Within a week of the displacement, a record number of toxic drug poisoning events were reported by health and community partners,” says Dr. Melissa Wan, interim medical health officer for the Cowichan area.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...ncerns-1303602/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 February 2026 - 10:46 AM.

[mbjj]

Lordie, I know Lewis St. well. All three of the schools I went to are within spitting distance of it. When we graduated from high school one of my good friends lived in an apartment, which I think was the one eventually demolished to make way for the homeless shelter. Hard to image how safe and carefree my childhood was in that area. We'd ride up to various corner stores on our bikes and never give a second thought to leaning them up outside unattended. 

[Victoria Watcher]

‘Not a lot of good choices’: Talks continue with no solution in sight for North Cowichan’s unhoused

 

https://cheknews.ca/...housed-1303991/

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Victoria will look into developing a program to free up space in supportive housing by helping people move up the housing ladder, so those living on the streets or in shelters can take their place.

 

Council has voted to have its staff work with other levels of government and housing partners to develop a program that would mirror Vancouver’s STEP program — Supporting Tenants, Enabling Pathways — which provides rent supplements and transitional support for people ready to move on from supportive housing.

 

Supportive housing refers to subsidized housing that provides on-site support for people with disabilities or who are at risk of experiencing homelessness.

 

Sarah Webb, the city’s assistant director of corporate planning, told council that Vancouver’s STEP program has transitioned 167 people since the program started in 2017.

 

Webb said a similar program co-ordinated by the CRD between 2020 and 2023 helped 260 people move through the supportive housing system.

 

Coun. Krista Loughton said the city needs to get cracking on getting more people indoors, given what she called a “crisis on our streets.”

 

“I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel here. We’ve done it before, and we need to do it again,” she said.

 

Loughton said more than 100 people are estimated to be stuck in supportive housing in the city because they can’t afford to move on to market housing.

 

If one segment can’t move on, those striving to get into supportive housing are left living in shelters or on the street because there’s no room.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ousing-11847877

 

It's all a big sham.   I recently showed you, the only reason people are on the street is the can't, or they refuse - to work.

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Webb, the city’s assistant director of corporate planning, told council that Vancouver’s STEP program has transitioned 167 people since the program started in 2017.

 

 

Big deal.  That's 20 people per year.  20 people die on the streets in 3 days in BC.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Today, 05:20 AM.

[dasmo]

It is pretty brutal on pandora right now. They both need help and should not be allowed to take over multiple city blocks. If our rulers can control the climate to within 1.5 degrees surely they can figure this out?

[Mike K.]

It has gotten worse since the big clean up in mid-2025?

[Victoria Watcher]

I already solved homelessness.  Sleep in the allowed parks overnight, or go to a shelter.  No exceptions.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, Today, 08:06 AM.

[lanforod]

I already solved homelessness.  Sleep in the allowed parks overnight, or go to a shelter.  No exceptions.

 

No, you've only pitched a proposal. That's the easy work. Convincing the powers that be to impliment and enforce it is the mountain you have to scale to claim you solved homelessness.

[LJ]

VW is running for city council so he will get it all fixed then.