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Homelessness

New homelessness coordinator will face big challenge in Kelowna

KELOWNA - When Kelowna’s new homeless coordinator is hired sometime this spring, they will find themselves working with a system that local service providers say is bursting at the seams. NOW Canada’s executive director Liz Talbot says the non-profit society’s 20-bed womens shelter has been running well over capacity for months now, even before the...

Lack of funding forces closure of Kelowna overnight homeless shelter

KELOWNA - Homeless people in need of a warm place to spend the night will have fewer options next week. In an effort to protect their year-round services, Inn From the Cold is closing their overnight services as of March 1, 2015 due to lack of funding, according to a media release. Normally, the overnight...

Kelowna city council aims to take lead on homelessness

KELOWNA - Admitting it’s out of touch with current community efforts to combat homelessness, Kelowna city council is hoping to jump into a leadership role by hiring a homeless coordinator and adopting a new, more direct housing strategy. The initiative comes amid signs of increased homelessness in Kelowna, including a doubling in the number of...

City of Kelowna take lead on homelessness file

KELOWNA - One of the front-line agencies dealing with the homeless in Kelowna is thrilled to see the city step up and provide leadership with plans to hire a full-time homeless coordinator. Local John Howard Society executive director Gaelene Askeland also says the city is on the right track embracing the low-barrier housing first philosophy...

Big waitlist for affordable housing in Vernon

VERNON - A new affordable housing building in Vernon is already proving its value. Roughly 60 applications have already been received from people wanting to live at Blair Apartments, John Howard Society of the North Okanagan executive director Barbara Levesque says. Previously known as the Journey Inn, the 38-unit apartment building is now owned by...

Homeless camps still a reality in Vernon parks

VERNON - With nowhere else to turn, members of the homeless community continue to sleep in public parks in Vernon.  A census done in October found six active homeless camps in the city, executive director for the Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan Annette Sharkey says. “That is up from previous counts, but not...

Kamloops is the only Interior B.C. city to take part in this unique homelessness project

KAMLOOPS - Kamloops has been taking part in a national pilot project to help eliminate homelessness and this week the community has upped the ante by signing up for a national campaign. In total, 21 communities from across the country joined the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness in launching the 20,000 Homes Campaign. Modelled after...

One homeless man’s long road to finding affordable housing in Vernon

“I HAD TO ASK FOR HELP. IT WAS EITHER THAT, OR I’D STILL BE HOMELESS” VERNON - For the last 10 years, Roy You has lived on and off the streets. He travelled far from the Splatsin First Nation reserve where he grew up, searching for work in different places, never staying long. Many nights...