Homelessness

Khristina (last name withheld), seen here at Salish Park on Jan. 18, 2023, from Saskatchewan comes to Chilliwack twice a year to find her son who is living on the streets, and to hand out supplies to homeless people. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

Saskatchewan cattle rancher visits Fraser Valley twice a year to find her homeless son

‘I spent time with him, and that has to be enough’

 

Performer Blake Elliott presented a cheque for $10,000 from the ‘mister Blake foundation’ to Refresh Mobile Shower Ministry’s Bill Keyes in Abbotsford on Jan. 19. The ministry provides showers in a mobile unit to the unhoused, in partnership with other service providers in Abbotsford and Maple Ridge. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Mobile shower ministry gets big boost to continue work in Fraser Valley

Abbotsford-based group has provided 2,600 showers to people in need since 2019

 

Val van den Broek (left) was at the Kimz Angels Wednesday free store when she did CPR on a man. (Kimz Angels Facebook)

Former Langley City mayor credited with saving overdosing man

Two men overdosed Wednesday morning at free clothing and food giveaway

 

Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN) its photographed at a Stabilization & Connection site designed to help people who are unhoused, in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

VIDEO: New hospital program helps Toronto’s homeless, cuts ambulance offload times

Stand-alone clinic provides space for people to recover from intoxication

Dr. Andrew Boozary, a primary care physician and the Executive Director of Population Health and Social Medicine at the University Health Network (UHN) its photographed at a Stabilization & Connection site designed to help people who are unhoused, in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Beverley Genge said a donation drive by people in two Walnut Grove seniors’ housing complexes and St. George’s Church to gather socks for the needy collected 641 pairs, the most ever.Genge (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: 641 socks for homeless gathered by Walnut Grove seniors

Largest number yet goes to Gateway of Hope

Beverley Genge said a donation drive by people in two Walnut Grove seniors’ housing complexes and St. George’s Church to gather socks for the needy collected 641 pairs, the most ever.Genge (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Shelters in Abbotsford took in 250 people on Monday night, as a winter storm brought more than 20 cm of snow and temperatures dipped to nearly -20 C. There is no warming shelter during the day in Abbotsford, and the storm is expected to last until Friday. Pictured is the 5 and 2 Ministries shelter for older adults in Abbotsford on Dec. 20. (Submitted/Jesse Wegenast)

‘A sea of mats’: Abbotsford extreme weather shelters run overcapacity through winter storm

Extreme weather response coordinator calling on EMBC and city to open daytime warming spaces

Shelters in Abbotsford took in 250 people on Monday night, as a winter storm brought more than 20 cm of snow and temperatures dipped to nearly -20 C. There is no warming shelter during the day in Abbotsford, and the storm is expected to last until Friday. Pictured is the 5 and 2 Ministries shelter for older adults in Abbotsford on Dec. 20. (Submitted/Jesse Wegenast)
Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20 C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Social agencies and advocates say rising interest rates and a high rate of inflation are pushing more Canadians into homelessness. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

‘Perfect storm’ of inflation, high prices driving more into homelessness: advocates

Housing shortage, opioid crisis also making matters worse

Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20 C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. Social agencies and advocates say rising interest rates and a high rate of inflation are pushing more Canadians into homelessness. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C., Vancouver partner to build modular housing for Downtown Eastside residents

90 temporary units to be ready by March 2023

Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man pushed a cart through downtown Langley City as a heavy snowfall began on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 29. (Langley Advance Times files)

IN OUR VIEW: We have food banks because the government has failed

We should not pretend it’s normal that thousands of people are homeless or hungry

  • Dec 3, 2022
A man pushed a cart through downtown Langley City as a heavy snowfall began on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 29. (Langley Advance Times files)
Ron Bergen is assembling care pacakges of personal grooming items for people without homes and for seniors. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Langley volunteer takes on project assembling care packages for seniors and homeless

Senior assembling bundles of sundries to help those struggling financially

Ron Bergen is assembling care pacakges of personal grooming items for people without homes and for seniors. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)
Bell ringers from Inclusion Langley were taking donations for the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope last year. The annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is underway now. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)

Bell ringing volunteers sought for Langley Christmas Kettle Campaign

Salvation Army’s Gateway of Hope is trying to raise $180,000 this season

Bell ringers from Inclusion Langley were taking donations for the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope last year. The annual Christmas Kettle Campaign is underway now. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver city council approves funding for more police, mental-health nurses

Motion leaves door open for provincial or federal government to contribute

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, left, and Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer listen as B.C. Premier David Eby announces a new public safety plan in Vancouver on Sunday, November 20, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Premier David Eby makes an announcement in Vancouver on November 20, 2022. On Nov. 21, Eby announced his plan to tackle the province’s housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Eby drills down on age-restrictive stratas, municipal targets in new housing measures

Proposed legislation will give B.C. greater control over how communities address housing needs

B.C. Premier David Eby makes an announcement in Vancouver on November 20, 2022. On Nov. 21, Eby announced his plan to tackle the province’s housing crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People who are experiencing homelessness in White Rock and South Surrey say they are often made to feel unwelcome in the community. Unhoused people and their advocates across the Semiahmoo Peninsula say that a homeless shelter would be only one step in addressing homelessness. (Tricia Weel photo)

Unhoused and unwelcome: Homeless community feeling marginalized in Lower Mainland

Second in series: Concerns in mental health, addictions need attention

People who are experiencing homelessness in White Rock and South Surrey say they are often made to feel unwelcome in the community. Unhoused people and their advocates across the Semiahmoo Peninsula say that a homeless shelter would be only one step in addressing homelessness. (Tricia Weel photo)
Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Auditor General will table several reports on Tuesday that will assess the government’s performance on a range of issues, including reducing chronic homelessness.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

VIDEO: Feds don’t know if they’re reducing homelessness, says auditor general

Hogan says lack of outcome accountability characterizes 1.36 billion housing effort

Auditor General of Canada Karen Hogan holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The Auditor General will table several reports on Tuesday that will assess the government’s performance on a range of issues, including reducing chronic homelessness.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The One Night Out fundraiser invites public to spend a night out in the open to raise awareness and money for vulnerable youth living without shelter. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Fundraiser for vulnerable youth invites public for a sleepover in a Langley parking lot

Hundreds to make LEC parking space their bedroom for a night

The One Night Out fundraiser invites public to spend a night out in the open to raise awareness and money for vulnerable youth living without shelter. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Aldergrove’s 17-year-old Soleina Hunter organized blanket and warm clothing donation drive at Aldergrove Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 15. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)

17-year old’s passion for community service receives support from dozens

Aldergrove girl partnered with Gateway of Hope for her project

Aldergrove’s 17-year-old Soleina Hunter organized blanket and warm clothing donation drive at Aldergrove Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 15. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
More than two dozen people have died of overdoses and accidents on Langley streets since 2012. (Langley Advance Times files)

Langley saw 25 accidental homeless deaths in a decade

People are dying on the streets at a higher rate than ever before

More than two dozen people have died of overdoses and accidents on Langley streets since 2012. (Langley Advance Times files)
Soleina Hunter will be accepting donations of blankets and warm clothing for the needy from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Aldergrove Plaza on the corner of 272nd and Fraser Highway. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

An Aldergrove teen would like residents to check their closets to help the needy

Soleina Hunter and mom Deanna will be accepting warm clothing donations Oct. 15, at Aldergrove Plaza

  • Oct 6, 2022
Soleina Hunter will be accepting donations of blankets and warm clothing for the needy from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Aldergrove Plaza on the corner of 272nd and Fraser Highway. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Send your letter to the editor via email to news@langleyadvancetimes.com and include your first and last name, address, and phone number. (Black Press Media files)

LETTER: Langley City senior calls on wealthy, unions, and churches to help solve homelessness

Those owning unused land and all levels of goverment also called to be part of the solution

  • Oct 2, 2022
Send your letter to the editor via email to news@langleyadvancetimes.com and include your first and last name, address, and phone number. (Black Press Media files)