Justine Stewart

The City of Vancouver has secured funding to keep three public washrooms in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) operational, addressing concerns from community advocates about their potential closure. Originally established during the COVID-19 pandemic and intended to support the growing homeless population, these washrooms at Oppenheimer Park, Pigeon Park, and 144 East Hastings St. were facing […]

The City of Timmins has voted to extend the Mushkegowuk Council’s Fire Keeper Patrol team through December 2025, a day before a public rally addressing homelessness and drug use in the community. This decision follows a successful one-year pilot program launched in 2023, where the patrol team provided outreach from 4 p.m. to midnight daily.

The situation for unhoused individuals in Toronto is critical, with the city’s shelter system struggling under intense pressure. In June, an average of 231 people per night were unable to secure a shelter bed, according to the city’s Shelter System Requests for Referrals webpage. Advocacy groups, including the Shelter and Housing Justice Network, are raising

Montreal has inaugurated its first urban shelter run by Indigenous people, the Mitshuap shelter, located near Cabot Square. Established by the Innu Nation, the shelter addresses the tragic death of Raphaël André, an Innu man who perished in January 2021 after being turned away from two shelters due to COVID-19 restrictions. A warming tent initially

Winnipeg’s upcoming street census will feature significant changes due to concerns about the accuracy of recent counts. Past censuses, conducted roughly every two years, relied heavily on volunteers. However, the 2022 survey saw a drop in volunteers from 300 to 160 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially skewing results. The 2022 census recorded around 1,250

Réhabex, a social rehabilitation organization in western Quebec, has launched a new mobile service called “Réhabus” to support people experiencing homelessness. The Réhabus is equipped with a shower, laundry facilities, clothing, snacks, and a private space for consultations with a social worker. It will begin service on Monday, traveling through Gatineau, Pontiac, Petite-Nation, and Maniwaki.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has introduced new standards for government-funded emergency shelters, covering safety, health, cleanliness, and staffing. While the standards are welcomed by housing critics, concerns remain about their enforcement and implications. Labrador West NDP MHA Jordan Brown expressed relief at the new standards but questioned how they will be implemented. He emphasized

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has introduced new standards for emergency shelters receiving government funding, addressing issues raised about some private operations. Housing Minister Fred Hutton acknowledged that implementing these standards will be costly, but emphasized the importance of investing in people. The new standards aim to improve shelter conditions by lowering barriers to access,

Halifax councillors have approved a list of nine parks for potential new homeless encampments due to overcrowding at current sites, which only accommodate about half of the 150 people experiencing homelessness in the city. As of late June, the four designated sites were filled beyond capacity, and there were additional encampments at various non-designated and

After nearly 40 days without a shelter, people experiencing homelessness in Montreal’s West Island have a new temporary home at Villa Saint-Martin, thanks to the Ricochet Centre. The centre had to close its previous location due to an expired lease and an unsuccessful search for a new site. Executive Director Tania Charron expressed relief at