Housing and Homelessness

Guildford’s new Baird Blackstone Building supportive housing project is named for William Baird Blackstone (inset photo), who died last January. Managed by Lookout Housing and Health Society, the building includes 61 studio units for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. (Building photo: Tom Zillich)

Surrey ‘in dire need’ of more supportive housing units like those in new Blackstone building

Guildford-area structure to house those experiencing homelessness

 

Surrey City Hall. (File photo)

Surrey’s COVID pandemic program receives $14M from province

B.C.’s Strengthening Communities’ Services Program gives ‘boost’ to services strained due to pandemic

 

Smoky skies looking south along 152nd Street on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. There is an air quality advisory in effect across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Donations of water, sunscreen needed in Surrey during heat wave and air quality advisory

Phoenix Centre accepting donations, will then distribute to partner agencies

 

A forty-unit permanent supportive housing project has opened in Newton. (Submitted photo: Amy Reid)

40 permanent supportive homes open in Surrey

Site will be operated by Phoenix Society

A forty-unit permanent supportive housing project has opened in Newton. (Submitted photo: Amy Reid)
Phoenix Society distributing water to the homeless and at-risk community over the weekend. (Photo: Phoenix Society/Twitter)

4,500 bottles of water donated for Surrey’s homeless, but more needed through the summer

Phoenix Society prepares backpacks with essential items for the heat wave

Phoenix Society distributing water to the homeless and at-risk community over the weekend. (Photo: Phoenix Society/Twitter)
BC Housing minister David Eby. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Eby jabs back against Penticton mayor’s ad urging BC Premier to intervene in shelter dispute

Eby writes that Penticton’s ‘serious’ social issues won’t improve under leadership of the mayor

BC Housing minister David Eby. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
In a release from the Ministry Responsible for Housing, it says the province, through BC Housing, will be buying the Travelodge Hotel (13939 104th Ave.) to provide 28 supportive housing units. (Image: Google Maps)

BC Housing buys Surrey hotel for supportive homes

Travelodge will provide nearly 30 homes

In a release from the Ministry Responsible for Housing, it says the province, through BC Housing, will be buying the Travelodge Hotel (13939 104th Ave.) to provide 28 supportive housing units. (Image: Google Maps)
BC Housing minister David Eby is concerned that Penticton council’s decision to close a local homeless shelter will result in a “tent city” similar to this one in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / Black Press file)

‘Disappointed and baffled’ B.C. housing minister warns of tent city in Penticton

Penticton council’s decision to close a local homeless shelter could create tent city, says David Eby

BC Housing minister David Eby is concerned that Penticton council’s decision to close a local homeless shelter will result in a “tent city” similar to this one in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / Black Press file)
Options Community Services has launched a campaign with 50 local women to raise $25,000 each for an affordable housing project in Surrey. (Photo: womenofoptions.ca). Options Community Services has launched a campaign with 50 local women to raise $25,000 each for an affordable housing project in Surrey. (Photo: womenofoptions.ca).

Options launches campaign to raise $1.5M for housing project in Surrey

50 women tasked with raising $25,000 each

Options Community Services has launched a campaign with 50 local women to raise $25,000 each for an affordable housing project in Surrey. (Photo: womenofoptions.ca). Options Community Services has launched a campaign with 50 local women to raise $25,000 each for an affordable housing project in Surrey. (Photo: womenofoptions.ca).
FILE - Walkers participating in a previous Coldest Night of the Year walk in Whalley with their special toques for the event. (File photo: Lauren Collins)

Surrey-Whalley ‘Coldest Night’ walk aims to raise $25,000

This year, the walk is virtual

FILE - Walkers participating in a previous Coldest Night of the Year walk in Whalley with their special toques for the event. (File photo: Lauren Collins)
Nelson Mendonca teaching someone how knit a toque by looming. Mendonca has been teaching people at Phoenix Society how to knit and the “toquers” are knitting to help fundraise for the Surrey-Whalley 2021 Coldest Night of the Year virtual fundraiser. (Photo submitted: Amy Reid)

Phoenix Society ‘toquers’ fundraising for Surrey-Whalley ‘Coldest Night’ walk

The virtual walk is Feb. 20

Nelson Mendonca teaching someone how knit a toque by looming. Mendonca has been teaching people at Phoenix Society how to knit and the “toquers” are knitting to help fundraise for the Surrey-Whalley 2021 Coldest Night of the Year virtual fundraiser. (Photo submitted: Amy Reid)
A 2019 photo of the site of what is now The Cove Shelter, which is operated by Surrey Urban Mission Society. Crews were working inside of this corner unit just days before it officially opened. (File photo: Lauren Collins)

Fraser Health says COVID-19 outbreak over at Surrey shelter

The outbreak was first declared on Dec. 2

A 2019 photo of the site of what is now The Cove Shelter, which is operated by Surrey Urban Mission Society. Crews were working inside of this corner unit just days before it officially opened. (File photo: Lauren Collins)
From left, Paige Van Klei, Alyssa Vlaanderen and Les Talvio stand in the living room of one of the two-bedroom units at The Switchback, a supportive housing building for youth on Dec. 18, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Vulnerable Fraser Valley youth now have a place to call home, four days before Christmas

The first residents of The Switchback supportive housing for youth in Chilliwack moved in Monday

From left, Paige Van Klei, Alyssa Vlaanderen and Les Talvio stand in the living room of one of the two-bedroom units at The Switchback, a supportive housing building for youth on Dec. 18, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Keir Macdonald, CEO of Phoenix Drug and Alcohol Recovery Education Society, with the “first of its kind” Adult Residential Substance Use and Supportive Recovery Facility Homelessness Count. It was done around the time of the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count (March 3 to 4, 2020) to complement the count. (Photo: Amy Reid)

Surrey homeless, recovery counts show need for long-term solutions

This was the first time recovery, substance use facilities were included in the count

Keir Macdonald, CEO of Phoenix Drug and Alcohol Recovery Education Society, with the “first of its kind” Adult Residential Substance Use and Supportive Recovery Facility Homelessness Count. It was done around the time of the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count (March 3 to 4, 2020) to complement the count. (Photo: Amy Reid)
The interior of Surrey’s newest shelter, dubbed the “Olive Branch. The 43-bed facility is housed in the old Surrey Food Bank building. (Submitted photo)

Three Surrey housing projects to get $3.9M over next decade

Funding to help Olive Branch, Cove shelters and Newton modular housing project

The interior of Surrey’s newest shelter, dubbed the “Olive Branch. The 43-bed facility is housed in the old Surrey Food Bank building. (Submitted photo)
A preliminary artist’s rendering has been posted to BC Housing’s website page for the proposed supportive housing project at 14706 104th Ave. The project would include about 60 units. (Image: BC Housing)

Nesting birds delay construction of Surrey supportive housing project

Councillor says work is ‘well underway now’; Nickerson Place closing Aug. 31

A preliminary artist’s rendering has been posted to BC Housing’s website page for the proposed supportive housing project at 14706 104th Ave. The project would include about 60 units. (Image: BC Housing)
Volunteers Diane Gulbransen, left, and Silvana Biondi during the 2020 Homeless Count in Surrey. The two were walking around Whalley to speak with people experiencing homelessness. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Volunteers search for ‘hidden problem’ during Surrey’s homeless count

Organizer says there are some challenges when it comes to identifying people

Volunteers Diane Gulbransen, left, and Silvana Biondi during the 2020 Homeless Count in Surrey. The two were walking around Whalley to speak with people experiencing homelessness. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
A rise of misconduct at the Nelson and District Community Complex has put a stress on staff and patrons. Photo: Tyler Harper

10 people banned in two weeks from B.C. rec centre for drugs, squatting

Suspensions were for setting up sleeping bags in washrooms, theft, verbal abuse of staff, and more

A rise of misconduct at the Nelson and District Community Complex has put a stress on staff and patrons. Photo: Tyler Harper
Harvey Clause, an Abbotsford homeless man and advocate, reflects on a few fatal overdoses over the past few weeks. Clause says grieving while homeless holds distinct challenges with little for privacy and little time to process grief. Dustin Godfrey/Abbotsford News

Nowhere to grieve: How homeless people deal with loss during the opioid crisis

Abbotsford homeless advocate says grief has distinct challenges for those living on the streets

Harvey Clause, an Abbotsford homeless man and advocate, reflects on a few fatal overdoses over the past few weeks. Clause says grieving while homeless holds distinct challenges with little for privacy and little time to process grief. Dustin Godfrey/Abbotsford News
Which one of these guys runs B.C.’s supportive housing policy? Squat organizer Ivan Drury demands housing from NDP leader John Horgan after crashing his campaign event in Maple Ridge, May 2017. The B.C. government is leaving thousands of people on its waiting list while it rushes to satisfy squatter demands. (Michael Hall/Maple Ridge News)

B.C. VIEWS: Cast your municipal vote for sanity on homelessness

Thousands on waiting list while anti-capitalist bullies get priority

Which one of these guys runs B.C.’s supportive housing policy? Squat organizer Ivan Drury demands housing from NDP leader John Horgan after crashing his campaign event in Maple Ridge, May 2017. The B.C. government is leaving thousands of people on its waiting list while it rushes to satisfy squatter demands. (Michael Hall/Maple Ridge News)