Homeless

Send your letter to the editor via email to editor@mapleridgenews.com

LETTER: Homeless deserve dignity and respect, too

Maple Ridge letter writer suggests choosing kindness over cruelty

  • Jun 5, 2021

 

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

 

A homeless camp is pictured in Strathcona Park in Vancouver. British Columbia’s housing minister says campers in Vancouver’s Strathcona Park can either choose to accept the housing on offer or leave the park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. working to house people camping in Vancouver park as deadline to leave looms

Campers at the park have until Friday at 10 a.m. to tear down their tents

 

Volunteers, a conservation officer and an RCMP officer visit the burnt homeless camp on April 15, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Volunteers left to cleanup aftermath of fire at Chilliwack homeless camp

‘The whole area is a disaster,’ says volunteer of 1,600 square foot area of burnt trash

Volunteers, a conservation officer and an RCMP officer visit the burnt homeless camp on April 15, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
A large area of the railway tracks beneath a bridge on Highway 1 has been cordoned off by police tape as investigators collect evidence. Patrick Penner / Abbotsford News.

IHIT releases name of the homicide victim at Abbotsford homeless camp

No motive or suspects known yet in murder of 35-year-old Robert Nelson

A large area of the railway tracks beneath a bridge on Highway 1 has been cordoned off by police tape as investigators collect evidence. Patrick Penner / Abbotsford News.
Shane MacKichan photo.

VIDEO: Homicide at Abbotsford homeless camp

Stabbing victim taken to hospital late Wednesday night, succumbs to injuries

Shane MacKichan photo.
A makeshift cold-weather camp that popped over Family Day long weekend in Parksville, located in the back parking lot of St. Anne’s church. (Mandy Moraes photo)

As snow falls on shelter-less B.C. town, woman builds her own makeshift homeless camp

‘There’s no doors open and these people are literally freezing’

A makeshift cold-weather camp that popped over Family Day long weekend in Parksville, located in the back parking lot of St. Anne’s church. (Mandy Moraes photo)
James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Same day well-known Chilliwack homeless man gets shelter built he is taken to hospital

Fraser Health doctor sent to assess James ordered him brought to CGH for proper assessment

James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Homeless man says ‘thank you’ to Chilliwack firefighters for building him a shelter

City of Chilliwack received several calls this week from people concerned about James’ safety

James, a homeless man, rests inside his new plywood structure on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. The box was made by members of the Chilliwack Fire Department. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Food For the Soul spokesperson Aida Tajbakhesh (left) said the new non-profit sees a lot of demand for its services in the homeless community. (Neil Corbett/The News)

Maple Ridge entrepreneurs say homeless, addicts killing business

New Food for the Soul non-profit operator says they are trouble-shooting issues

Food For the Soul spokesperson Aida Tajbakhesh (left) said the new non-profit sees a lot of demand for its services in the homeless community. (Neil Corbett/The News)
Innervisions Recovery Society operates Hannah House.

Maple Ridge recovery society receives provincial funding

Part of $2 million top-up to help deal with COVID-19

Innervisions Recovery Society operates Hannah House.
Food For the Soul is taking part in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.

New Maple Ridge charity hosts Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser

Food For the Soul will host annual event that has moved online for 2021

Food For the Soul is taking part in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.
Nobody will be turned away from the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministry in the next couple of days as temperatures are expected to dip below freezing. (THE NEWS/files)

Ridge Meadows Salvation Army calls for extreme weather response

Freezing temperatures forecast tonight and Friday, snow on the weekend

Nobody will be turned away from the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministry in the next couple of days as temperatures are expected to dip below freezing. (THE NEWS/files)
Katherine McParland was executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit agency devoted to working on ending youth homelessness. McParland herself was homeless for a period of time after aging out of the foster system. Photograph By KTW FILE

Kamloops homeless advocate leaves defining legacy following death

The death of the executive director of A Way Home Kamloops is being mourned by the team at the agency

  • Dec 7, 2020
Katherine McParland was executive director of A Way Home Kamloops, a non-profit agency devoted to working on ending youth homelessness. McParland herself was homeless for a period of time after aging out of the foster system. Photograph By KTW FILE
There were 114 homeless people counted in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows as part of the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count in March. (The News/files)

More than 100 homeless counted in March snapshot across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Metro Vancouver Homeless Count has been taking place since 2002

There were 114 homeless people counted in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows as part of the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count in March. (The News/files)
Royal Crescent temporary modular homes opened in October 2018 with 53 studio suites. (The News files)

LETTER: Critical of Liberal candidates comments on supportive housing

Aspiring Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows MLAs should know there’s more to aiding homeless than shelter

  • Oct 18, 2020
Royal Crescent temporary modular homes opened in October 2018 with 53 studio suites. (The News files)
If you have a letter you’d like to submit to the editor for consideration, please email us at editor@mapleridgenews.com. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

LETTER: CERB is simply worsening overdose issues in Maple Ridge

Taxpayer money is going to help buy more drugs and increase cases of death on local streets: Reader

  • Sep 19, 2020
If you have a letter you’d like to submit to the editor for consideration, please email us at editor@mapleridgenews.com. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Youth homelessness is a very real issue for many young people in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and many community leaders and stakeholders have been working towards a solution. Friday, Sept. 18, the provincial government joined in the efforts. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media files)

Province joins in bid to house Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows youth at risk

BC Housing comes to table in a collaboration with stakeholders striving to secure supportive housing

Youth homelessness is a very real issue for many young people in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and many community leaders and stakeholders have been working towards a solution. Friday, Sept. 18, the provincial government joined in the efforts. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media files)
This young person was seen leaned up against the wall of a local business in downtown Maple Ridge, along the Haney Bypass, sign, suitcase, and scooter nearby. (The News files)

LETTER: Is Maple Ridge’s approach to homeless and drug problems really helping?

One letter writer fears efforts to aid people in need are actually only enabling them further

  • Sep 10, 2020
This young person was seen leaned up against the wall of a local business in downtown Maple Ridge, along the Haney Bypass, sign, suitcase, and scooter nearby. (The News files)
Suraj Sangani, Arshpreet Singh and Winnie Lam, with the Maple Ridge Public Health Unit, put together hygiene bags during the 2020 Homeless Count at the Salvation Army Ridge Meadow Ministries earlier this year. (THE NEWS files)

Slight decrease in homelessness in Maple Ridge

2020 Homeless Count finds 114 people without housing in the city

Suraj Sangani, Arshpreet Singh and Winnie Lam, with the Maple Ridge Public Health Unit, put together hygiene bags during the 2020 Homeless Count at the Salvation Army Ridge Meadow Ministries earlier this year. (THE NEWS files)