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Saying yes in my backyard

September 29th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Saying yes in my backyard)

An online YIMBY toolkit from Vancouver’s Pivot Legal Society may be coming soon to a neighbourhood near you

NIMBY is an acronym for “not in my backyard” used to describe a person who objects to something they perceive as unpleasant or potentially dangerous in their own neighborhood. YIMBY—“yes, in my backyard”— is a lesser known antonym to NIMBY. The term YIMBY first emerged in the late 1980s and is used to describe people who understand the value of addressing homelessness, addictions, and mental illness in a proactive and positive way and are active in welcoming new projects and people into their neighbourhoods. (more…)

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Is new housing a ‘nightmare’?

September 22nd, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Is new housing a ‘nightmare’?)

Opponents to a new housing project for teenage girls say it must exist outside the DTES, away from pimps, predators

Atira Women’s Resource Society has opened an 18-unit single room accommodation facility for young women in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. The Society says it is responding to an urgent need for low barrier supportive housing for girls and young women who are homeless or in unsafe conditions.

But opposition to the move has been fierce and considerable. Most of the concern seems to focus on the location—and use of a building in the Downtown Eastside. But other concerns have been expressed about the process that led to the project’s opening—and plans for the way it will operate. (more…)

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A unique invitation goes out

September 22nd, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on A unique invitation goes out)

As Nanaimo social housing projects experience predictable, continuing opposition, citizens are invited down to the 7-10

The City of Nanaimo’s 2008 homelessness action plan [opens to PDF] estimated there were anywhere from two to three hundred individuals sleeping outside or in their vehicles or makeshift shelters—and hundreds more living in unsafe or unstable conditions and vulnerable to losing their housing and becoming homeless. The situation had generated considerable concern for Nanaimo residents, government agencies, service providers and elected officials and led to a general recognition of the need for a collective response. (more…)

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Grassroots group set to open houses

September 1st, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Grassroots group set to open houses)

Nanaimo Transitional Housing group opens two houses for homeless people in Nanaimo this week

The Victoria Human Exchange Society has been successfully assisting people in need of housing for 19 years—and now the organization’s Nanaimo branch is opening two transitional houses, one for men and the other for women.

Community organizer and Nanaimo Transitional Housing chairperson Leanne Salter says the houses will provide shelter for up to six months to people who might come to Nanaimo and find that they are homeless, couch surfing, or unexpectedly without shelter. An on-site facilitator will assist with community service referrals and the search for stable housing. The transitional housing is drug and alcohol-free. (more…)

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Dentists to volunteer at new clinic

April 7th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Dentists to volunteer at new clinic)

Community dental clinic in Nanaimo will provide dental care for people with low incomes

A group called Community Organized Dental Clinic, working with Volunteer Nanaimo, is about to open a dental clinic for people in the city who aren’t able to afford dental care. The group initially received a grant from the City of Nanaimo’s Social Planning Advisory Committee and it then worked with volunteer tradespeople to prepare a space for the clinic at 489 Wallace Street. The clinic, which was two and a half years in the planning and making, now has four volunteer dentists, but seeks additional dentists as well as other volunteers to schedule appointments and help with bookkeeping. (more…)

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Leadership hopefuls challenged

February 10th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Leadership hopefuls challenged)

Faith groups ask that Liberal and NDP leadership candidates explain homelessness, housing positions

The Vancouver Interfaith Alliance to End Homelessness is calling on leadership candidates from B.C.’s NDP and Liberal parties to declare a commitment to end homelessness in BC by 2015. The Alliance is a non-partisan group whose members include over 60 diverse faith leaders representing community-based churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and spiritual centres from across Vancouver.

A letter delivered last week invited all leadership candidates to respond and make their positions clear. Responses to that letter will be made public this week. (more…)

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