Homeless

A Journey Home spokesman said there are about 130 people experiencing homelessness in Kelowna. (Black Press/File photo)

New program shows real-time availability of shelter beds in Kelowna

On Nov.22, at 2p.m. Kelowna had two shelter beds available for adults

 

Firefighters and RCMP on Rail Trail, Nov. 17. (Jordy Cunningham/ Capital News)

‘It’s not the first and it won’t be the last’: Fire crews douse blaze on Kelowna’s Rail Trail

Those experiencing homelessness are building campfires for warmth off the Rail Trail

 

A homeless camp was taken down in Vernon at the far end of Polson Park near the railroad tracks Nov. 10, 2022. (Derrick Abram Koscielny photo)

Vernon homeless camp taken down

It’s unknown where residents who lived at the camp are now residing

 

Vernon Fire Rescue Services responded to a report of smoke in a housing complex resulting from an unattended pot on a stove. The local fire department is using that as a safety reminder to residents. (File photo)

Homeless camp fire sparked in Vernon

Blaze sparked same day as Coldstream house fire

Vernon Fire Rescue Services responded to a report of smoke in a housing complex resulting from an unattended pot on a stove. The local fire department is using that as a safety reminder to residents. (File photo)
Candles used for light and warmth at Kelowna’s Tent City (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

3 blazes in a week at Kelowna’s Tent City has residents calling for extinguishers

Many people are using candles, wood fires and propane heaters to stay warm

Candles used for light and warmth at Kelowna’s Tent City (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Four new Penticton Community Safety Officers were hired and are visible in the downtown with a focus on social issues. One of them was bit by a dog while doing a wellness check Oct. 25. (City of Penticton file photo)

Penticton Community Safety Officer bit by dog while doing wellness check

The man with the dog subsequently threw a bottle at the CSO’s truck and ran away

Four new Penticton Community Safety Officers were hired and are visible in the downtown with a focus on social issues. One of them was bit by a dog while doing a wellness check Oct. 25. (City of Penticton file photo)
Black Press Media file photo

Homelessness in Kelowna tripled in size in the last year: Bylaw

The cleaning of ‘Tent City’ required a backhoe, a dump truck, and about 20 RCMP and bylaw officers

Black Press Media file photo
FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

75% spike: 247 people experiencing homelessness died in 2021 in B.C.

Increase in lives lost fuelled by the ongoing toxic drug poisonings

FILE – Indigenous organizations, tent city residents and others hold a news conference outside the former single room occupancy Balmoral Hotel to protest the city’s ongoing removal of a homeless encampment on the sidewalks in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Judicial review sought of fire order to remove tents off Vancouver street

Petition argues fire chief made order without procedural fairness to those living on Hastings Street

A man using a rolling walker walks on the street past tents setup on the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on August 16, 2022. The city has been clearing the street in accordance with a safety order by the city’s fire chief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The truck incident victim's tent was stationed beside the blue tent, in the left of the photo. The victim was dragged, while trapped in his tent, to the end of the skid marks on the Rail Trail pathway, beside the shopping cart (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna encampment fears for safety after ‘horror’ of truck crash through fence into resident

Residents of Tent City say the incident was like something out of a horror movie

The truck incident victim's tent was stationed beside the blue tent, in the left of the photo. The victim was dragged, while trapped in his tent, to the end of the skid marks on the Rail Trail pathway, beside the shopping cart (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)

UPDATE: Charges laid after man dragged through encampment by truck

Driver arrested; Victim taken to hospital with serious injuries

A person living in a tent (not pictured) was run over and dragged by the driver of a Dodge Ram at the Rail Trail homeless encampment. The person was taken to hospital with significant injuries. (Facebook)
Sixty riders turned out the Rex Gill and Mike Courtney Memorial Ride on Sept. 25, with thousands raised for charities close to Rex’s heart. (Submitted)

Annual Rex Gill memorial ride returns to Penticton and Kelowna

Police have said Gill’s unsolved murder in 2019 was a case of mistaken identity

Sixty riders turned out the Rex Gill and Mike Courtney Memorial Ride on Sept. 25, with thousands raised for charities close to Rex’s heart. (Submitted)
Photos were taken with permission of a man concealing his identity, and his belongings (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Those experiencing homelessness paid $50 after attending Kelowna council candidate’s protest

The protest took place at City Hall on Sept. 12

Photos were taken with permission of a man concealing his identity, and his belongings (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Cracker and his bike, with his identity hidden (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

RCMP and offenders agree crime is a ‘revolving door’ in Kelowna

“They say here’s a hundred bucks and here’s the street,” said Cracker

Cracker and his bike, with his identity hidden (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna’s vulnerable want to shelter from heat wave, but bylaw requires they move

Bylaw requires residents of homeless encampment to pack-up and leave each morning

Photo taken with permission of a woman who had a seizure, due in part to the extreme heat in Kelowna (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
The BX Swan Lake Fire Rescue Department put out a homeless camp fire north of Vernon Monday, May 23. (Morning Star - file photo)

Crews extinguish bush fire north of Vernon

Homeless camp fire puffs out large plume of smoke in bushes near Swan Lake; no injuries

The BX Swan Lake Fire Rescue Department put out a homeless camp fire north of Vernon Monday, May 23. (Morning Star - file photo)
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prince George apologizes for taking down part of a homeless camp

Judge finds that Prince George ‘inflicted serious harm on vulnerable people’

Tents and other structures are seen in an aerial view at a homeless encampment in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 30, 2021. The City of Prince George, B.C., has apologized for the harm it caused to vulnerable people when it removed their structures from a homeless camp.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Photo/Turning Points Collaborative Society)

Leases extended at 2 Kelowna shelters for people experiencing homelessness

Need for shelter services in Kelowna ‘greater than ever’

(Photo/Turning Points Collaborative Society)
A fire destroyed the home of Bonnie Thomas and her son Darcy Andrew on Jan. 8, 2022. (Contributed)

Victim of house fire near Salmon Arm prays for mother of man she believes started blaze

Homeowner, whose son died in 2018, says she knows helplessness of having a child with addictions

A fire destroyed the home of Bonnie Thomas and her son Darcy Andrew on Jan. 8, 2022. (Contributed)