Mayor Josh Morgan of London is pushing to establish a temporary emergency homeless shelter by the end of 2023 to address the city’s growing homelessness crisis. The plan involves setting up a “60 micro-modular shelter site” intended to provide urgent relief, as homelessness is seen as a public health and safety issue. The shelters are […]

The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) is honoring the late Ta’an Kwäch’än Elder Shirley Adamson by dedicating the Family Preservation Wellness Centre in Whitehorse to her. The facility, now named “Zhürá” in her honor, provides short-term and emergency housing for Indigenous women and families, including those fleeing abuse or recovering from addiction. It also

A mobile mammography service in northwestern Alberta is playing a crucial role in increasing breast cancer screenings among rural and Indigenous communities. The service, operated by Primary Care Alberta, travels to remote areas, providing screenings to individuals aged 45-74. Barbara Goodswimmer, an elder of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, credits the mobile clinic with saving

Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert First Nation) in northwestern Ontario has enacted the Trespassing and Safety Naaknigewin law to combat drug trafficking and related violence within its community. This law allows the Chief and Council to issue trespass notices to individuals engaged in illegal activities, such as drug dealing, unauthorized hunting, and squatting. Non-band members can

The Gizhe Waa Tii-Si-Win Service Expo in Winnipeg offers a one-stop resource for people experiencing homelessness, providing essential services like health cards, eye exams, and haircuts. Held at N’Dinawemak – Our Relatives Place, an Indigenous-led 24/7 shelter, the expo connects attendees with a range of support providers. Optometrists are offering free vision tests and ready-made

In Gatineau, Quebec, a new housing initiative called Village Transitiôn is providing a vital stepping stone for those transitioning out of homelessness. Located on the site of a former tent city, the project consists of 85 shipping containers converted into 100 independent living units. These units offer private living spaces with a bed, shower, and

Winnipeg’s proposed rules to address homeless encampments have sparked concern from housing advocates. The city council’s community services committee approved a motion to ban encampments near playgrounds, schools, and other public spaces, with enforcement focused during the day. While Mayor Scott Gillingham acknowledges the limitations, he emphasizes that enforcement will be paired with outreach services

Edmonton is about to launch a groundbreaking housing program designed specifically for 2SLGBTQ+ people, particularly two-spirit individuals fleeing gender-based violence. Set to open in a few months, the facility will provide both emergency and transitional housing, with 12 emergency spaces available for up to 90 days, and 12 transitional units offering up to two years

Lorne Clifford, a retired peacekeeper in Thunder Bay, has shifted his focus from global conflicts to addressing water insecurity among the homeless. Earlier in 2024, he launched I Was Thirsty, a grassroots initiative that delivers bottled water directly to encampments across the city. Since the summer, volunteers have distributed over 14,000 bottles. Clifford’s inspiration came

The Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee (CABRAC) in Toronto has passed a motion calling for Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) to collect and publicly share race-based data on evictions, arrears, and tenant relocations. This motion aims to address systemic inequities and provide evidence to improve tenant protections. The idea came after an Ombudsman report exposed weaknesses