Feature Stories

The following news items showcase a range of housing issues across the province that feature BC Housing and our community partners.


	The key to a new life by Melissa Lampman, Kamloops This Week, March 11, 2010 - For the first time in more than a decade, Pat Bebonang has a key to his own place. He had been living on the streets of Kamloops for the past four-and-a-half years, calling dumpsters and doorways home. Click here for the whole story.

	EDITORIAL: Proactive approach rather refreshing, Kamloops This Week, March 11, 2010 - The old Whistler Inn is looking pretty good these days. But, like the lives of those it houses, the renovated building at St. Paul Street and Fifth Avenue has its share of rough patches as it embarks on a new beginning. Click here for the whole story.

	Residents move into former Jamboree Motel March 16 by Erin Hitchcock, Williams Lake Tribune, March 9, 2010 - Residents will begin moving into the new Jubilee Place — formerly the Jamboree Motel — next Tuesday. Click here for the whole story.

	A big step up from a cardboard box by Darryl Dyck, The Globe and Mail, March 2, 2010 - Besides taking risks with its houses of culture and sports, Vancouver is vilified for its lack of housing for the homeless. So it was with considerable joy that I toured the new apartments of the Portland Hotel Society. Click here for the whole story.

	Happy kids with free Olympic tickets impress bus driver by Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun, February 26, 2010 - Kyle Lee got to see Olympic speed skaters at the Richmond oval and came back to report that Canada beat Italy. It was a thrill for the Grade 3 Strathcona elementary school student, who was at the Olympic event with fellow students from his school thanks to Celebrate 2010, a Vanoc program that has distributed 50,000 tickets to people who otherwise might not be able to go to the Olympics. Click here for the whole story.

	Plan for affordable housing moving ahead in Langford by Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist, February 25, 2010 - Sixty-three units of affordable housing -- including 12 units for seniors -- are up for approval to be built off Spencer Road near the Trans-Canada Highway. Click here for the whole story.

	Armed with a dolly, a pail and a purpose by Wendy Stueck, Globe and Mail, February 24, 2010 - At the beginning of his shift yesterday, Harold Elliott was at his usual spot on Robson Street, broom and dustpan at the ready, preparing to sweep three blocks of the popular shopping strip in the wake of thousands of Olympic visitors. Click here for the whole story.

	New women’s shelter to be built by Grant Warkentin, Campbell River Mirror, February 23, 2010 - Plans for a new shelter for homeless women and children are finally going ahead. Last week, council approved a major development permit for a 30-unit “transition apartment” for women. Click here for the whole story.

	Olympics find many exuberant fans in shelters by Doug Ward, Vancouver Sun, February 23, 2010 Support for athletes found, despite misgivings about cost of Games - The 2010 Winter Games are a big hit in the homeless shelters of the Downtown Eastside -- even with those who believe that some of the Olympic billions should have been spent on social housing in their neighbourhood. Click here for the whole story.

	Restored Vancouver hotel tries to restore hope by Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Inquirer, February 22, 2010 - The Hotel Pennsylvania here is a bit like the "Hotel California" in reverse. In the Eagles' 1970s classic song, you could check out of the Hotel California, but you could never leave. Here, you can arrive, but there's no way to check in. No front desk. No bellman waiting in the cutout driveway that never sees a taxi or an arriving guest. Click here for the whole story.

	That revolving 'W' celebrates a healing opportunity below by Bob Ransford, Vancouver Sun, February 20, 2010 Woodward's an invitation for us all to experience a historic social re-integration - The big red "W" -a rebuilt Vancouver icon on its Eiffel Towerlike base -- marks ground zero for the rebirth of a real community in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Click here for the whole story.

	Group of 10 band together for Valley homeless by Ron Seymour, The Daily Courier (Kelowna), February 17 2010 - Street people and the homeless will be well-served by a variety of social agencies despite the impending closure of the Kelowna Drop-In Centre. Click here for the whole story.

	Early morning breakfast draws crowds at Our Place by Roszan Holmen, Oak Bay News, February 16, 2010 City funding eases Our Place congestion - It’s 6:45 a.m. and Karley Smith and her “old man” are among roughly 20 people waiting for the gates at Our Place to open. As the minutes tick down to the 7 a.m. opening, another 10 or so people stroll up and join the informal queue. Click here for the whole story.

	Firm wins $2.2M bid to build homes, Daily News, February 13, 2010 - After two years of sagging sales in a sluggish economy, there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel for Freeport Industries Ltd., a Parksville-based company that constructs modular homes and buildings. Click here for the whole story.

	Living Library takes first breath by Lora Grindlay, The Province, February 11, 2010 - Residents ready to tell their stories to people who want to hear them Their lives have been vastly different, but for 20 years they've both lived on the streets and in the hotels of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Click here for the whole story.

	Patrons eye youth centre redevelopment plan by Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier, February 10, 2010 Broadway Youth Resource Centre serves homeless, at-risk young people - Roman Lavender wasn't aware last week of a rezoning application and redevelopment plans for the squat brick building with dark-tinted windows at the corner of East Broadway and Fraser Street. Click here for the original article.

	Britco to build 124 units of housing, Agassiz Observer, February 10, 2010 - Britco Structures was awarded the lion's share of a government contract to construct social housing. The provincial and federal governments recently announced a joint project to build 322 modular housing units at a cost of $15.5 million. Click here for the whole story.

	Social housing project fan recruits 'friends' for fight by Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier, February 3, 2010 - Sian Madoc-Jones had never attended a city open house and never started a Facebook group. But leaflets she received about a large social housing development in her Mount Pleasant neighbourhood spurred her into action. Click here for the whole story.

	Welcome steps on homelessness by Editorial, Times Colonist, February 3, 2010 - It's a great week for anyone seeking progress on the problems of homelessness and disorder in the region. Two developments show welcome co-operation and a willingness to seize opportunities as they arise. Click here for the whole story.

	$350,000 Oly legacy announced by Damian Inwood, The Province February 2, 2010 - For youth leader James Naknakin, a $350,000 Olympic legacy announcement for an outdoor sports court in the Downtown Eastside was like winning the Super Bowl. "I'm speechless right now," he grinned. "This is one of the craziest things I've ever imagined." Click here for the whole story.

	Operation Phoenix to share lessons with international visitors by Sam Cooper, The Province February 1, 2010 - During the 2010 Games, The Province's indepth Operation Phoenix series will offer international media a window into the complex issues that plague Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Click here for the whole story.

	Britco will help house seniors, Langley Advance, January 26, 2010 - Langley's Britco Structures is one of four B.C. firms that will build modular housing units for senior citizens. A joint project of the federal and provincial governments will see $15.5 million poured into creating 322 modular units. Click here for the whole story.

	New seniors housing announced for Kelowna, Kelowna.com, January 25, 2010 - The governments of Canada and British Columbia announced today $15.5 million for the construction of 322 modular housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities, to be constructed by four B.C. modular housing manufacturers, including Chaparral Industries in Kelowna. Click here for the whole story.

	Hospice finally a reality After years of effort, 10-suite residence, part of $9 million Ladner project, opens today by Sandor Gyarmati, The Delta Optimist, January 23, 2010 - The vision has become a reality for the Delta Hospice Society, which will celebrate the grand opening of a 10-suite palliative care residence today. Click here for the whole story.

	The restored Russell a place to rebuild lives, by Michael McQuillan, New Westminster News Leader, January 22, 2010 - The restoration of the Russell has been a labour of love. And so will the restoration of the lives of people living there. The Russell Housing Centre, formerly the College Place Inn, officially opened Friday. Click here for the whole story.

	CMHA to operate Jamboree, Williams Lake Tribune, January 22, 2010 - The Canadian Mental Health Association will be managing and operating the property at the former Jamboree Motel site to provide 33 units of affordable housing and support services for low-income people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Click here for the whole story.

	Emergency housing good for Kamloops, Editorial, The Kamloops Daily News, January 21, 2010 - Perhaps it was the Olympics that drew the provincial government's attention to the appalling need for affordable and emergency housing in B.C. Click here for the whole story.

	Environmental Supportive Housing Development Breaks the Ground to Add to Vancouver 100+ apartments for the homeless, Ming Pao Daily, January 16, 2010 - Ground breaking was held yesterday at 525 Abbott Street for the fifth supportive housing development under the agreement between the Province of B.C. and the City of Vancouver. Click here for the whole story.

	New housing units aimed at people facing homelessness, Times Colonist (Victoria), January 16, 2010 - Eighteen units of supportive housing for people who have been homeless, or on the verge of homelessness, were officially opened yesterday in a renovated Saanich office building. Click here for the whole story.

	Rich Coleman believes Woodward’s will be successful housing model; CCAP cautions accurate measurement of success CTV News at Six January 15, 2010 - Bill Good: The idea behind the Woodward’s development is to create a blend of commercial businesses, upscale condos and desperately needed social housing. Click here for the whole story.

	Homeless shelter for at-risk youth opens downtown $1.9m project offers 32 beds, support by Jack Keating,The Province, January 14, 2010 - Krista Thompson was so happy at Wednesday's official opening of a permanent shelter for at-risk homeless youth in Vancouver that she started to cry. Click here for the whole story.

	Foundation plans to add 2,000 housing units No cash announced yet for 10-year project to fight homelessness by Frances Bula, Globe and Mail, January 12, 2010 - A group of Vancouver business leaders tackling homelessness say they will aim to provide 2,000 units over the next 10 years, which they say is enough permanent housing to get everyone off the streets. Click here for the whole story.

	Meetings delve into Little Mountain development Many open house attendees supported affordable housing at the site by Naoibh OConnor, Vancouver Courier, January 6, 2010 - A new Little Mountain development could rise above its current four-storey zoning as height and density were among the subjects raised at a pair of open houses hosted by the city in early December. Click here for the whole story.

	Winter shelter set to open 24/7 in downtown Vancouver today City wants to open additional shelters in Kits and West End by Frank Luba, The Province January 6, 2010 - As many as 40 people will be offered a chance to get off the street for the night and into Vancouver's second emergency winter shelter when it opens today. Click here for the whole story.

	From slum to new urban mix by Frances Bula, Globe and Mail, January 5, 2010 - For almost two decades, it was a black hole at the eastern entrance to Vancouver's downtown: a hulking empty building surrounded by vacant storefronts and drug dealers. But now, the former Woodward's department store - once the centre of gravity on a bustling commercial street - is coming back to life.. Click here for the whole story.