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Statistical Reduction of Homlessness – Housing First | Europe + Scandinavia
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Housing First is an established concept in Finland since more than 15 years thanks to the Y-Foundation as a pioneer. The Y-Foundation was also one of the founding members of the Housing First Europe Hub.
In 2016 the Finish Y-Foundation together with FEANTSA established the Housing First Europe Hub. The Y-Foundation has been a key player in establishing Housing First as the main response to homelessness in Finland. Since 2007 national policies shifted towards reducing long-term homelessness through Housing First programmes.
As a result, in Finland, the utilisation of emergency and temporary accommodations, such as shelters, hostels, and temporary supported housing, has significantly declined. The number of homeless individuals residing in hostels or boarding houses decreased by 76% from 2008 to 2017. This reduction is attributed to the widespread adoption of prevention strategies, the replacement of outdated models of communal supported housing with Housing First and housing-led approaches, which largely replaced emergency shelters.
ARA, the Housing Finance and Development Centre, has also been involved in the implementation of Housing First in Finland since the start through subsidising new and renovated homes as well as giving housing advice to municipalities.
As a result, Finland is one of the only European countries that registers decreasing homelessness numbers. The country’s goal is to end homelessness in Finland all together.
Finland has managed to reduce homelessness in recent years, but homelessness as a phenomenon is still alive and well. The homelessness situation often escalates in the context of social and economic crises.
Originally Published on https://housingfirsteurope.eu/country/finland/
End of Life in the 21st Century and The Costs Associated With Passage
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Poor people in Canada pay for funerals through provincial social assistance programs (like BC’s Ministry of Social Development or Ontario Works), the federal Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit.
Many today are choosing simpler, lower-cost options like direct cremation, with funeral homes often guiding families through these limited financial resources. Government aid covers basic services, but often falls short of average funeral costs, requiring families to supplement or choose minimal arrangements.
- Government Financial Assistance
Provincial Programs: Most provinces have programs, often through social development or welfare ministries, to help with funeral costs if the deceased’s estate and family can’t pay. - British Columbia: The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction provides assistance, covering basic services, burial/cremation, and interment, working directly with funeral homes.
- Ontario: Ontario Works helps cover basic funeral expenses for those in need, with a process involving your local office.
- Federal Program: Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit: A one-time payment of $2,500 (a flat rate) is available if the deceased contributed to CPP for a minimum number of years, helping families with costs.
- How the Process Works
Contact the Ministry: After a death, the legal representative (executor) contacts the provincial ministry (e.g., Social Development) to see if the estate qualifies for assistance.
Work with Funeral Homes: Funeral directors are familiar with these programs and guide families to choose services within the available budget.
Ministry Pays the Funeral Home: If approved, the ministry pays the funeral home directly for approved services, which may cover cremation or burial and other basic costs.
- Cost-Saving Options
Direct Cremation: This is often the most affordable option, as it avoids embalming, viewing, and elaborate ceremonies.
Simplified Services: Choosing basic services (no casket upgrades, flowers, or extensive visitations) keeps costs down.
- Challenges
Funding Gaps: Government funding often doesn’t cover the full average cost of a funeral, leaving a significant gap for families to fill.
Limited Choices: Financial constraints restrict choices, making it hard to provide the send-off families desire.
Peace to All and Best Wishes to All in the New Year of Life and it’s passing encounters.
theurbansurvivor.org
Homeless Prevention Program | BC Housing 2025
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Homeless Prevention Program
The Homeless Prevention Program provides portable rent supplements and support services to individuals in identified at-risk groups facing homelessness.
About the program
The Homeless Prevention Program is an initiative aimed at providing individuals in identified at-risk groups facing homelessness with portable rent supplements and support services to help them access rental housing in the private (non-subsidized) housing market.
The rent supplements and support services help recipients access rental housing in the private (non-subsidized) housing market and community-based services.
The Homeless Prevention Program operates, in many instances, as an enhancement to the existing Homeless Outreach Program / Indigenous Homeless Outreach Programs and targets individuals at transition points that put them at greater risk of homelessness.
Cost: None. Services are free.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible, you (or someone you know) are at immediate risk of homelessness. This includes:
- Youth transitioning out of foster care
- Women who have experienced violence or are at risk of violence
- Individuals leaving the correctional or hospital systems
- Individuals of Indigenous descent
Age
- Rent supplements are for eligible individuals aged 19 years and older
- Youth 18 or younger may be eligible, connect with an outreach worker for further information
Services
If you are eligible and approved, the rent supplement can assist with:
- Your rent
- Your damage deposit
- Costs that help you secure housing (for example, getting identification)
- Transportation to a housing opportunity
- Storage for your belongings as you wait to move into a new home
- Ensuring access to utilities (for example, heat and water)
- Moving expenses
- Home start-up items
You cannot use the rent supplement for:
- Rent, if you are already receiving a subsidy
- Expenses not related to housing or this Program
- Clinical health and treatment services
- Medical or clinical staff expenses
- Daycare expenses
Please contact an outreach worker for full details. An outreach worker will be able to determine what you are eligible for.
Who to contact
Contact a Homeless Prevention Program Service Provider or go to the nearest Emergency Shelter and ask to speak to staff.
Outreach staff will ask a few questions about your situation and income to determine your eligibility.
Note: Rental supplements are intended to be temporary.
Originally published on the British Columbia Housing Program website.
The Crisis of Dental Care Affordability in North America: A Tale of Two Nations
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Dental care remains a critical yet often overlooked component of overall health, with millions in Canada and the United States unable to afford basic services. For low-income individuals, the high cost of dental care exacerbates health inequities, perpetuates cycles of poverty, and strains public health systems. This article examines the systemic barriers to affordable oral health care in both countries, highlighting policy gaps, socioeconomic disparities, and the human toll of unmet dental needs.
The Canadian Context: Progress and Persistent Gaps
In Canada, approximately one-third of residents lack dental insurance, and one in four avoid dental visits due to cost, often leading to preventable complications like infections, cardiovascular issues, and diabetes-related problems. Recognizing this crisis, the federal government launched the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) in 2023, targeting uninsured households earning under 90,000 its phased rollout has left gaps. For example, adults aged 18–64 must wait until 2025 to apply, prolonging financial strain for many.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. The CDCP’s “payer of last resort” model does not fully address accessibility barriers, such as rural “dental deserts” or provider shortages in marginalized communities. Additionally, Canada’s reliance on employer-sponsored insurance—covering 76% of insured individuals—leaves low-income workers, gig economy employees, and Indigenous populations disproportionately uninsured.
The U.S. Crisis: A Landscape of Inequity
In the U.S., over 76.5 million Americans lack dental insurance, with disparities starkly divided along racial and economic lines 5. Black and Hispanic adults are 68% and 52% more likely, respectively, to have unmet dental needs compared to white Americans, while rural residents face severe provider shortages—Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota have the highest rates of “dental deserts”. Medicaid, the primary safety net, often limits adult coverage to emergency extractions, leaving preventive care inaccessible. Even insured individuals face high deductibles and annual caps, forcing many to delay treatment until crises arise.
The consequences are dire. Poor oral health contributes to lost productivity (4.15 million workdays missed annually) and unnecessary emergency room visits, costing the U.S. healthcare system $1.8 billion in 2017 alone. Vulnerable groups, including veterans and low-income families, endure higher rates of periodontal disease and tooth loss, further entrenching health inequities.
Structural Barriers and Systemic Failures
Both nations grapple with systemic issues that compound affordability challenges:
- Geographic Disparities: Rural areas in the U.S. and Canada suffer from dentist shortages, with rural Canada relying on fly-in clinics and the U.S. facing a ratio of one dentist per 3,850 rural residents.
- Racial and Economic Inequities: Marginalized communities, including immigrants and people of color, face discrimination, language barriers, and limited access to culturally competent care.
- Policy Limitations: Canada’s CDCP excludes those with employer insurance, while the U.S. lacks a federal dental program, relying on fragmented state-level Medicaid policies.
Toward Equitable Solutions
Addressing this crisis requires bold policy reforms. Canada’s CDCP, though imperfect, represents a step toward universal coverage, but advocates argue for a federally funded agency to standardize care and close gaps. In the U.S., expanding Medicaid dental benefits and incentivizing providers to work in underserved areas could mitigate disparities. Both nations must prioritize integrating oral health into primary care and addressing social determinants like poverty and education.
Conclusion
The unaffordability of dental care in North America is not merely a health issue but a moral failing. While Canada’s CDCP offers hope, its success hinges on addressing accessibility and inclusivity. In the U.S., systemic overhaul is urgently needed to ensure oral health is treated as a fundamental right. Until then, millions will continue to suffer needlessly, their pain a testament to the enduring divide between privilege and poverty.
30-bed emergency shelter for older adults planned in Abbotsford
Facility would run out of Central Heights Church
Written by: Vikki Hopes
Feb 25, 2025 10:22 AM
Listen to this article by accessing the above player.
A 30-bed emergency shelter for older adults is being planned at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford.
The plan came before city council on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 25), when a temporary-use permit and housing agreement were approved.
A staff report to council states that 30 individual “sleeping units” will be provided in an existing building on the church property at 1661 McCallum Rd.
That area at the north end of the building has been operating by Sparrow Community Services Society as a severe weather shelter for older adults.
A letter to the city from BC Housing in September 2024 states that in order to accommodate the emergency shelter, the building will be renovated to include sufficient washroom and shower facilities, accessible entry and operator spaces.
The space is expected to be completed this winter.
The Central Heights Church Shelter will continue to be run by Sparrow – which serves older adults (50+) who are at risk of homelessness – under an agreement with BC Housing.
Support services will be provided 24/7 under the Homelessness Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) and Homelessness Encampment Action Response Team (HEART) programs.
The staff report to council says a temporary-use permit was required to accommodate the proposed use as it abuts an existing residential use.
The permit will be valid for three years, with the opportunity to request one three-year extension.
The housing agreement includes that the operators must form a good neighbour committee with monthly meetings for the first four months and then on an as-needed basis.
The operators must also provide support services – directly or through referrals – such as life-skills training, counselling and substance-use services.
They must also at least have two staff on site 24/7, and ensure that guests “do not disturb the peace, quiet and enjoyment of the neighbourhood.”
The project has drawn support from Fraser Health and the Abbotsford Police Department, which states that the current services offered at the site have required fewer police resources than comparable facilities.
The city says there are currently 40 encampments and more than 400 unhoused individuals across Abbotsford.
Originally published online at The Abbotsford News
What Can I Do About A Slumlord?
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Dealing with a slumlord can be incredibly frustrating and stressful, but there are steps you can take to protect your rights and improve your living situation. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the situation:
1. Know Your Rights
- Familiarize yourself with local tenant laws and housing codes. These vary by location but generally guarantee your right to a safe and habitable living environment.
- Common landlord responsibilities include providing:
- Working utilities (heat, water, electricity).
- Proper sanitation and waste disposal.
- Structural integrity (no leaks, mold, or pest infestations).
- Safe and secure locks on doors and windows.
- If your landlord is failing to meet these standards, they may be violating the law.
2. Document Everything
- Keep a detailed record of all issues, including:
- Photos and videos of unsafe or unsanitary conditions.
- Written notes about when problems started and how they’ve been ignored.
- Copies of all communication with your landlord (emails, texts, letters, etc.).
- This documentation will be critical if you need to take legal action or report the landlord.
3. Communicate with Your Landlord
- Notify your landlord in writing about the issues and request repairs. Be specific, polite, and keep a copy of the letter or email.
- If they don’t respond or refuse to make repairs, send a follow-up notice and mention your legal rights.
4. Report Code Violations
- Contact your local housing authority, health department, or building code enforcement agency to report unsafe or unsanitary conditions.
- An inspector may visit your property and issue a violation notice to the landlord, forcing them to make repairs.
5. Withhold Rent or Repair and Deduct
- In some areas, tenants are allowed to withhold rent or pay for repairs themselves and deduct the cost from rent. However, this can be risky, so:
- Check your local laws to ensure this is allowed.
- Notify your landlord in writing before taking action.
- Keep receipts and documentation for all repairs.
6. Join or Organize with Other Tenants
- If other tenants are experiencing similar issues, consider organizing as a group. Landlords are more likely to respond to collective action.
- You can also reach out to local tenant unions or advocacy groups for support.
7. Seek Legal Help
- If your landlord continues to neglect their responsibilities, consult a tenant attorney or legal aid organization.
- You may be able to:
- Sue for damages or compensation.
- Break your lease without penalty.
- Force the landlord to make repairs through a court order.
8. Consider Moving
- If the situation doesn’t improve and your health or safety is at risk, it may be best to find a new place to live.
- Before moving, ensure you’re not violating your lease and that you’ve followed proper legal procedures to protect yourself from retaliation or eviction.
9. Report to Local Media
- If the situation is severe and widespread, contacting local news outlets can bring attention to the issue and pressure the landlord to act.
10. Stay Safe
- If you feel threatened or unsafe due to your landlord’s actions, contact local law enforcement or a tenant advocacy group immediately.
Resources to Help You:
- Local Housing Authority: For reporting code violations or unsafe conditions.
- Legal Aid Organizations: For free or low-cost legal advice.
- Tenant Unions: For advocacy and support in organizing with other tenants.
- State or Local Tenant Rights Websites: For information on your specific rights.
By taking these steps, you can hold your landlord accountable and work toward a safer, healthier living environment.
Arguments for Slumlords as a Source of Affordable Housing
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- Market Necessity: In areas with severe housing shortages, slumlords may provide the only available option for low-income individuals, preventing homelessness.
- Economic Realities: Some landlords claim they cannot improve properties without raising rents, which could displace tenants. Low-income tenants might prioritize cost over quality due to limited options.
Criticisms of Slumlords as a Blight:
- Exploitative Practices: Charging high rents for substandard housing capitalizes on tenants’ desperation, often violating health/safety codes.
- Health and Safety Risks: Poor conditions (e.g., mold, pests, structural issues) harm physical and mental health, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
- Moral Concerns: Profiting from inadequate housing perpetuates inequality and dehumanizes tenants, prioritizing profit over human dignity.
- Community Impact: Neglected properties contribute to neighborhood blight, reducing investment and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Systemic Context:
- Root Causes: Slumlords thrive in systems with inadequate affordable housing, weak regulation, and income inequality. They are a symptom of broader failures in housing policy.
- Regulatory Gaps: Weak enforcement of housing standards allows slumlords to operate, while insufficient subsidies or public housing leave tenants with few alternatives.
Conclusion:
Slumlords are primarily a blight, exacerbating poverty and inequality through exploitation and neglect. While they may fill a temporary gap in housing supply, their practices harm individuals and communities. Addressing the issue requires systemic solutions:
- Policy Interventions: Strengthen tenant protections, enforce housing codes, and expand affordable housing initiatives.
- Ethical Alternatives: Promote public housing, rent control, and community land trusts to provide dignified, sustainable housing.
Ultimately, the existence of slumlords underscores the need for structural reforms rather than tolerating exploitative stopgaps.
slumlords provide affordable housing. In many cities, there’s a shortage of affordable housing, so even if the housing is substandard, it might be the only option for low-income individuals or families. Without these slumlords, maybe there would be even fewer options, leading to homelessness. But then, the counterargument is that the conditions in these properties are terrible, possibly violating health and safety codes. So even if it’s affordable, is it acceptable for people to live in such conditions?
You’ve highlighted a critical tension in the debate about slumlords and affordable housing: the trade-off between availability and quality. Let’s break this down further:
The Argument That Slumlords Provide Affordable Housing:
- Housing Shortages: In many cities, affordable housing is scarce due to rising costs, gentrification, and insufficient public housing. Slumlords fill a gap by offering low-cost options, even if the conditions are poor.
- Preventing Homelessness: For some low-income individuals or families, substandard housing may be the only alternative to living on the streets or in shelters, which can be even more precarious.
- Market Realities: Slumlords often operate in neighborhoods where property values are low, and the cost of maintaining or improving housing exceeds what tenants can pay. Without them, these properties might remain vacant or be redeveloped into unaffordable housing.
The Counterargument: Unacceptable Living Conditions:
- Health and Safety Risks: Substandard housing often violates health and safety codes, exposing tenants to hazards like mold, lead paint, pests, faulty wiring, and structural instability. These conditions can lead to serious health problems, especially for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.
- Exploitation: Slumlords often charge rents that are disproportionately high relative to the quality of the housing, exploiting tenants who have no other options.
- Moral and Ethical Concerns: Allowing people to live in such conditions raises ethical questions about dignity and human rights. Affordable housing should not come at the cost of basic safety and well-being.
- Long-Term Costs: Poor housing conditions can perpetuate cycles of poverty by affecting tenants’ health, education, and employment opportunities, ultimately costing society more in healthcare, social services, and lost productivity.
The Broader Systemic Issue:
The existence of slumlords is a symptom of deeper systemic failures:
- Lack of Affordable Housing: Governments and private developers have not built enough affordable housing to meet demand, leaving low-income individuals with few options.
- Weak Regulation and Enforcement: In many places, housing codes are not strictly enforced, allowing slumlords to operate with impunity.
- Economic Inequality: Rising income inequality and stagnant wages make it difficult for many people to afford decent housing, forcing them into substandard options.
Is It Acceptable?
While slumlords may provide a temporary solution to housing shortages, the conditions they offer are fundamentally unacceptable. Affordable housing should not come at the cost of health, safety, or dignity. The solution lies in addressing the root causes of the problem:
- Policy Solutions: Governments should invest in affordable housing, enforce stricter housing codes, and provide subsidies or incentives for landlords to improve properties.
- Community Initiatives: Nonprofits and community land trusts can develop and maintain affordable, high-quality housing for low-income residents.
- Tenant Protections: Stronger tenant rights and rent control measures can prevent exploitation and ensure that housing remains affordable and habitable.
In conclusion, while slumlords may fill a gap in the short term, their existence is a symptom of systemic failures that need to be addressed. Affordable housing should not mean substandard housing, and society must strive to provide safe, dignified living conditions for all.
Why Criminalizing Homelessness Fails Society: A Call for Compassionate Solutions
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Introduction
In cities worldwide, the visibility of homelessness often prompts punitive measures, including arrests for offenses like sleeping in public or loitering. However, jailing homeless individuals is a counterproductive approach that exacerbates systemic issues rather than resolving them. This article explores why criminalizing homelessness is ineffective, inhumane, and costly, while advocating for evidence-based alternatives.
1. The Ethical Failure of Punishing Poverty
Homelessness is rarely a choice. Systemic factors such as unaffordable housing, wage stagnation, mental illness, and lack of healthcare drive individuals into homelessness. Criminalizing these circumstances is inherently unjust, punishing people for conditions beyond their control. As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Housing noted, laws targeting homelessness often violate human rights by discriminating against the poor. Jailing vulnerable populations ignores the root causes of homelessness, perpetuating cycles of marginalization.
2. Financial Costs: Jails vs. Solutions
Incarceration is expensive. The average annual cost to incarcerate one person in the U.S. exceeds 35,000,whereas providing permanent supportive housing—a proven solution—costs roughly 20,000–$25,000 per person annually. Cities like Houston and Salt Lake City have reduced chronic homelessness by up to 90% through Housing First initiatives, which prioritize housing without preconditions. Taxpayer dollars spent on jails could instead fund housing, mental health services, and job training, generating long-term societal savings.
3. Overburdening the Legal System
Arresting homeless individuals for minor offenses clogs courts and jails, diverting resources from serious crimes. In Los Angeles, for example, homeless individuals are disproportionately cited for low-level violations, straining law enforcement and judicial systems. A 2019 study found that 11% of LA County Jail inmates were homeless, highlighting how incarceration becomes a revolving door for those without stable housing.
4. Public Health and Safety Concerns
Jails are ill-equipped to address the complex needs of homeless populations, particularly those with mental health or substance use disorders. Incarceration often worsens these conditions, leading to higher relapse rates and vulnerability upon release. Conversely, access to healthcare, counseling, and harm reduction programs has proven more effective in improving outcomes. A 2020 study in Health Affairs found that supportive housing reduced emergency room visits by 40% among chronically homeless individuals.
5. The Cycle of Criminalization
A criminal record creates barriers to employment, housing, and benefits, trapping individuals in homelessness. For example, a 2018 report by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty revealed that 70% of U.S. cities ban camping in public, pushing homeless populations into further isolation and legal jeopardy. This punitive approach undermines trust in institutions, discouraging people from seeking help.
6. Alternatives That Work
Successful models emphasize dignity and support:
- Housing First: Provides immediate housing with wraparound services, showing a 99% retention rate in Denver.
- Mental Health Courts: Divert individuals to treatment instead of jail, reducing recidivism by 58% (Council of State Governments).
- Outreach Programs: Cities like San Diego employ teams to connect homeless individuals with services, reducing street homelessness by 14% in two years.
Conclusion
Jailing homeless people is a costly, short-sighted strategy that deepens societal inequities. Compassionate policies addressing root causes—affordable housing, healthcare access, and economic support—offer a sustainable path forward. As a society, we must choose investment over punishment, recognizing that homelessness is not a crime but a systemic failure demanding urgent, humane solutions.
References:
- United Nations Human Rights Council, “Report on Adequate Housing” (2016)
- National Alliance to End Homelessness, Cost Studies (2021)
- Journal of the American Medical Association, “Health Outcomes and Housing First” (2020)
- U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Housing First Evidence (2023)
Food Banks in British Columbia.
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100 Mile House Food Bank
5693 Horse Lake Rd. 100 Mile House, BC V0K 2E1
T: 250-397-2571 F: 250-397-2579
Email: bobhicks@bcinternet.net
Abbotsford Food Bank
2420 Montrose St. Abbotsford, BC V2S 3S9 T: 604-859-5749 F: 604-859-2717 Dave Murray Email: afb@telus.net or christmasbureau@telus.net
Website: www.abbotsfordcommunityservices.com
Agassiz-Harrison Food Bank
P.O. Box 564 #5 – 7086 Cheam Ave Agassiz, BC V0M 1A0 T: 604-796-2585 F: 604-796-2517 Laurie Sallis Email: ahcs@shawlink.ca or greimer@shawlink.ca Website: www.agassiz-harrison.org
Okanagan Boys & Girls Club
P.O. Box 332 3459 PLEASANT VALLEY RD Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0 T: 250-546-3465 F: 250-546-3468 Andrea Schnell Email: cfedick@boysandgirlsclubs.ca Website: www.boysandgirlsclubs.ca
Ashcroft & Area Food Bank
PO Box 603 601 Bancroft St Ashcroft, BC V0K 1A0 T: (250) 453-9656 F: (250) 453-2034 Denise Fiddick Email: scelizfry@telus.net
Barriere & District Food Bank Society
P.O. Box 465 Barriere, BC V0E 1E0 T: (250) 672-0029 Kim Keating
Bella Coola Valley Food Bank
P.O. Box 22 Bella Coola, BC V0T 1C0 T: 250-799-5588 F: 250-799-5791 Clare Harris Email: charris@belco.bc.ca
Campbell River & District Food Bank
1393 Marwalk Crescent Campbell River, BC V9W 5V9 250-286-3226 250-286-3296 Ann & George Minosky email: ann_minosky@telus.net OR ann_minosky@telus.net
Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services
Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services PO Box 100 Nakusp, BC V0G 1R0 T: (250) 265-3674 F: (250) 265-3378
Anne Miskulin
Email: amiskulin@aslcs.com
Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services
PO Box 100
Nakusp, BC V0G 1R0
T: (250) 265-3674 F: (250) 265-3378
Anne Miskulin
Email: amiskulin@aslcs.com
Boundary Community Food Bank Society
Mailing Address:
7149 2nd Street Grand Forks, BC V0H 1H0
Clients: 215 Central Ave., Grand Forks
7419 – 2nd St, Grand Forks T: 250-442-2800 F: 250-442-2800
Larry Dickerson
Email: boundaryfoodbank@gmail.com or auroraws@yahoo.ca
Bulkley Valley Food Bank Smithers/Houston
P.O. Box 4293 1065 MAIN ST Smithers, BC V0J 1Z0 T: 250-847-1501 F: 250-845-7048 Rick Apperson Email: rick_apperson@can.salvationarmy.org
Cawston/Keremeos Food Bank
c/o Cawston/Keremeos SDA Church 2334 Newton Road Cawston, BC V0X 1C1 Ingrid Percival Phone: 250-499-0297 Email: kere@telus.net
Chase Hamper Society
P.O. Box 137 Chase, BC V0E 1M0 T: (250) 679-2399 Email: cjwyld@cablelan.net Chuck Wyld
Chilliwack Community Food Bank – Salvation Army
45746 Yale Rd W Chilliwack, BC V2P 2N4 T: (604) 792-0001 F: (604) 792-5367 Don Armstrong Email: careandshareda@shaw.ca Website: www.salvationarmychilliwack.ca
Chemainus Harvest House
P.O. Box 188 9814 Willow St. (BSMT) Chemainus, BC V0R 1K0 T: 250-246-4816
Sylvia Massey Email: sylviamassey@shaw.ca
Clearwater and District Food Bank
741 Clearwater Village Road Clearwater, BC V0E 1N1 T: 250-674-3402 F: 250-674-3402 Patrick Stanley Email: pandhlc@telus.net
CMS Food Bank Society
2740 Lashburn Road Mill Bay, BC V0R 2P1 T: 250-743-5242 F: 250-743-5268 Email: cmsfbank@telus.net
Community Connections Food Bank
PO Box 2880 Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0 T: 250-837-2920 F: 250-837-2909 Patti Larson Email: plarson@community-connections.ca
Website: www.community-connections.ca
Columbia Valley Food Bank
201 – 7 Ave PO Box 2141 Invermere, BC V0A 1K0 T: 250-342-0850
Doug Leibel
Comox Valley Food Bank
PO Box 3028 1755B 13th Street Courtenay, BC V9N 5N3 T: (250) 338-0615 Jeff Hampton Email: comoxvfb@shaw.ca
Cranbrook Food Bank Society
104-8th Ave South Cranbrook, BC V1C 2K5 T: 250-426-7664 F: 250-426-7610 Jackie Jensen Email: jackiejensen44@shaw.ca
Creston Valley Food Bank
807 Canyon St Creston, BC V0B 1G3 T: (250) 428-4166 F: 1-866-460-881
Doreen Lowe Email: cvgleaners@telus.net
Food Bank on the Edge
160 Sea Plane Base Rd PO Box 1146 Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
T: (250) 726-6909 F: (250) 726-7543
U: Lorene (Lorry) Foster Email: fost@telus.net
Fernie – Salvation Army Family Services
PO Box 2259 741 – 2ND AVE Fernie, BC V0B 1M0
T: (250) 423-4661 F: (250) 423-4668
U: Email: kyla_mckenzie@can.salvationarmy.org Kyla McKenzie
Friends in Need Food Bank
#8-22726 Dewdney Trunk Road Maple Ridge, BC V2X 8K9 T: 604-466-3663 F: 604-463-1736 Joanne Olson Email: director@friendsneedfood.com
Website: www.friendsneedfood.com
Fort St.John – Salvation Army Family Services
10116 100 Ave Fort St. John, BC V1J 1Y6 T: (250) 785-0500 F: (250) 785-0517 Isobel Lippers Email: isobel_lippers@can.salvationarmy.org
Golden Food Bank
PO Box 1047 #102 1115 9TH STREET S Golden, BC V0A 1H0 T: 250-344-5608
F: 250-344-2113 Barb Davies Email: goldenfoodbank@uniserve.ca
People for a Healthy Community Food Bank
PO Box 325, 675 North Road Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0 T: (250) 247-7311
F: 250-247-7311 Kathryn Molloy Email: info@phc-gabriola.org OR food@phc-gabriola.org Website: www.phc-gabriola.org
Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society
1150 Raymur Ave. Vancouver, BC V6A 3T2 T: 604-876-3601 F: 604-876-7323 Garth Pinton Website: www.foodbank.bc.ca
Goldstream Food Bank
Canwest P.O. Box 28122 Victoria, BC V9B 6K8 T: 250-474-4443
F: 250-474-4443 Sandy Prette Email: sprette@shaw.ca
Harvest of Hope Food Bank
PO Box 1625 Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0 T: (604) 886-3665 F: (604) 886-3683 Maureen O’Hearn Email: tsafoodbank@dccnet.com Website: www.tsaonthecoast.ca
Harvest Food Bank
P.O. Box 849 7120 MARKET ST Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 T: 250-902-0332
F: 250-902-0613 Cheryl Elliott Email: harvest9@telus.net
Hope Food Bank
434 Wallace St PO Box 74 Hope, BC V0X 1L0 T: 604-869-2466 Ex: 403
F: 604-869-3317 Kim Paolini Email: kpaolini@hopecommunityservices.com Website: kpaolini@hopecommunityservices.com
Hazelton – Salvation Army Community Food Bank
PO Box 100 Hazelton, BC V0J 1Y0 T: (250) 842-6289 F: 250-842-6553
Tom Harris Email: sallyann@bulkley.net or sallysplace@bulkley.net
Hornby Island Food Bank
Comox Valley Food Bank
Joe King Park
3875 Central Rd.
Hornby Island, BC
Kamloops Food Bank & Outreach Society
P.O. Box 1513 171 Wilson St., Station Main Kamloops, BC V2C 6L8
T: 250-376-2252 F: 250-376-0052 Bernadette Siracky
U: Email: bsiracky@kamloopsfoodbank.org
Website: www.kamloopsfoodbank.org
Kelowna Community Food Bank Society
1265 Ellis Street Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Z7 T: 250-763-7161 F: 250-763-9116 Vonnie Lavers Email: vonnie@kcfb.ca
Website: www.kelownafoodbank.com
Kimberley Helping Hands Food Bank
340 Leadenhall Street Kimberley, BC V1A 2X6 T: 250-427-5522 F: 250-427-2297 Heather Smith Email: valb2@telus.net randyandheather@shaw.ca
Kitimat Food Bank Society
14 Morgan St Kitimat, BC V8C 1J3 T: 250-632-6611 Marjorie Phelps Email: marjon@citywest.ca
Ladysmith Food Bank
P.O. BOX 1653 721 First Avenue Ladysmith, BC V9G 1B2 T: 250-245-3079 F: 250-245-3798 Neill-Ireland Email: info@lrca.bc.ca
Website: www.lrca.bc.ca
Lake Country Food Assistance Society
P.O. BOX 41013 RPOS 3130 Berry Rd. Lake Country, BC V4V 1Z7 T: (250) 766-0125 F: 250-766-3038 Phyllis MacPherson Email: pmacpher@shaw.ca
Lake Cowichan Food Bank
Box 1087 Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 T: (250) 749-6239 F: 250-749-6239 Cindy Vaast Email: cowichanlakefoodbank@gmail.com
Langley Food Bank
5768-203 St. Langley, BC V3A 1W3 T: 604-533-0671 F: 604-533-0891 George Vandergugten Email: info@langleyfoodbank.com
Website: www.langleyfoodbank.com
Lillooet Food Bank
357 Main Street PO Box 2170 Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0 T: 250-256-4146 F: 250-256-7928 Violet Wager
Website: www.bcaafc.com/centres/lillooet/
Email: foodbank@lillooetfriendshipcentre.org
Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank
1009 Farquhar St. Nanaimo, BC V9R 2G2 T: 250-754-8347 F: 250-754-8349 Peter Sinclair Email: info@nanaimoloavesandfishes.org
Logan Lake Food Bank
PO Box 196 Logan Lake, BC V0K 1W0 T: 250-523-9057 Monica Oram
Email: monicaoram@yahoo.com
Lumby Food Bank
PO Box 791 Lumby, BC V0E 2G0 T: (250) 547-2225 Bruce Mackie
Email: jandnmackie@shaw.ca
Lytton Community Food Bank
PO Box 87 Lytton, BC V0K 1Z0 T: (250) 455-2316 F: (250) 455-6669 Michele Swan Email: mswan2@telus.net
Mustard Seed Food Bank
625 Queens Ave. Victoria, BC V8T 1L9 T: 250-953-1580 F: 250-385-0430 Brent Palmer Email: brentpalmer@mustardseed.ca
Website: www.mustardseed.ca
Neighbour Link Food Bank
P.O. Box 2353 Vanderhoof, BC VOJ 3A0 T: 250-567-9007 F: 250-567-9017 Colleen Flanagan Email: neigh09@telus.net
Nelson – Salvation Army Family Services
601 Vernon St Nelson, BC V1L 5R2 T: (250) 352-3488 F: (250) 352-7373
Yvonne Borrows Email: yvonne_borrows@can.salvationarmy.org
Nicola Valley and District Food Bank
2026 Quilchena Ave PO Box 2719 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 T: 250-378-2282 F: 250-378-2982 Karen Flick Email: foodbank@mail.ocis.net
Oliver Food Bank
P.O. Box 405 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 T: (250) 498-4555 Jim Ouellette
Email: jimo@persona.ca
Osoyoos Food Bank
6210-97th Street
Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V4 T: (250) 495-6581 F: (250) 495-8011
Lu Ahrendt
Email: rlahrendt@live.ca
White Rock & South Surrey Food Bank
5-15515 24 Ave Surrey, BC V4A 2J4 T: 604-531-8168 ext. 229 F: 604-541-8188 Sue Sanderson or Jaye Murray
Email: ssanderson@sourcesbc.ca or jmurray@sourcesbc.ca
Website: www.pacsbc.com/progr…
Peachland Food Bank
6490 Keyes Ave Peachland, BC V0H 1X0 T: (250) 767-3312 F: 250-767-3488 Judy Bedford
Pemberton SSCS Food Bank
1357 Aster Street Box 656 Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0 Louise Stacey-Deegan Phone: 604-894-6101 Fax: 604-894-6333 Email: louise.stacey-deegan@sscs.ca
Website: www.sscs.ca
Penticton – Salvation Army Community Food Bank
2399 South Main St Penticton, BC V2A 5J1 T: (250) 492-4788 F: (250) 492-6494 Dorian Polaway
Email: Pentictoncmw@shaw.ca or pentictonprogramcoordinator@shaw.ca
Powell River Action Centre Food Bank
6812d Alberni St Powell River, BC V8A 2B4 T: (604) 485-9166 Gina Kendrick
Port Alberni Community Food Bank
4841 Redford St Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3P3 T: (250) 723-6913 F: (250) 723-6938 Marilyn Burrows Email: marilyn_burrows@can.salvationarmy.org
Prince Rupert – Salvation Army Family Services
25 Grenville Crt. Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1R3 T: 250-624-6180 F: 250-624-8157 Erica Collison email: erica_collison@can.salvationarmy.org
Prince George – Salvation Army Family Services
777 Ospika Blvd S Prince George, BC V2M 3R5 T: 250-564-4000 EXT: 223 F: 250-564-4021 Crystal Wilkinson Email: crystal_wilkinson@can.salvationarmy.org Website: www.tsainpg.com
Quesnel Food Bank
374 McLean St Quesnel, BC V2J 2N9 T: 250-992-8784 – 250-992-7079
F: (250) 991-5189 Jim Vanderheyden email: jimmyanddebbie@hotmail.com
Quadra Island Food Bank
PO Box 243 Heriot Bay V0P 1H0 T: 250-285-3888 Teresa Tate Email: teresa_tate@yahoo.com
Salmo Food Bank
PO Box 39 311 Railway Avenue Salmo, BC V0G 1Z0 T: (250) 357-2277 F: (250) 357-2385 Charlene Bonderoff Email: charlene@scrs.ca Website: www.scrs.ca
Richmond Food Bank Society
100-5800 Cedarbridge Way Richmond, BC V6X 2A7 T: 604-271-5609
Margaret Hewlett Email: margaret@richmondfoodbank.org or
info@richmondfoodbank.org Website: www.richmondfoodbank.org
Cherryville Community Food Bank Society
412 Sugar Lake Road
Cherryville, BC V0E 2G2
P: 250-547-6646 F: 250-547-8944
Sharon Harvey
msharon@hotmail.com
Salt Spring Island Community Services Food Bank
268 Fulford Ganges Road Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2K6 T: 250-537-9971 (237) F: 250-537-9974 Gloria McEachern Email: gmceachern@ssics.ca OR jvanpelt@ssics.ca OR safoodbank@shaw.ca
Website: www.saltspringcommunityservices.ca
Salmon Arm – Salvation Army Food Bank
191 2nd Avenue NE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N6 T: 250-832-9194 F: 250-832-9148 David Byers Email: foodbank@sunwave.net
Share Family & Community Services
2615 Clark Street Port Moody, BC V3H 1Z4 T: 604-931-2451 F: 604-931-2421 Roxann MacDonald Email: r.macdonald@sharesociety.ca
Website: www.sharesociety.ca
Salvation Army Mt. Arrowsmith Community Ministries
886 Wembley Rd Parksville, BC V9P 2H6 T: 250-248-8794 F: 250-248-8601 Rolf Guenther Email: pvsallyann@shawbiz.ca
Slocan Valley Food Cupboard
915 HAROLD STREET BOX 10 SLOCAN V0G 2C0 T: 250-355-2484 Deb Corbett Email: officemanager@wegcss.org
Sidney Lions Food Bank
95865 5th Street Sidney, BC V8L 3S8 T: (250) 655-0679 F: (250) 655-1130 Bev Elder Email: fdbank@telus.net
Sorrento Food Bank
Box 568 Sorrento, BC V0E 2W0 Phone: 250-253-3663 or 250-675-3835 Contact: Jim Chisholm Email: sorfood@shaw.ca
Sooke Food Bank Society
2037 Shields Rd Sooke, BC V0S 1N0 T: (250) 642-7666 F: 250-642-5670
Ingrid Johnston
email: ingridjohnston@shaw.ca
Sparwood Food Bank
P.O. Box 682 125D Centennial Sq.
Sparwood, BC V0B 2G0 T: 250-425-6435 Carol Walmsley
email: jcwalm@shaw.ca
South Delta Food Bank
5545 Ladner Trunk Rd Delta, BC V4K 1X1 T: (604) 946-1967
F: (604) 946-4944 Joe Van Essen Email: info@ladnerlife.com
St. Joseph’s Food Bank
32550 7th Ave Mission, BC V2V 2B9 T: (604) 615-3223 F: (604) 755-4705
Email: sjfoodbank@gmail.com John Poston
Squamish Food Bank
PO Box 207 Garibaldi Highlands, BC V0N 1T0 T: (604) 848-4316
Susan Newman Email: squamishfoodbank@gmail.com
Summerland Community Food Bank
12583 Taylor Place Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0 T: 250-488-2099 Leventine Adams Email: summerlandfoodbank@gmail.com
St. Mark’s Ecumenical Food Bank
1109-95 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC V1G 1J2 T: 250-782-2614 Austin Sones
Surrey/North Delta Food Bank
10732 – CITY PARKWAY Surrey, BC V3T 4C7 T: 604-581-5443 F: 604-588-8697 Marilyn Herrmann Email: execdir@surreyfoodbank.org
Website: www.surreyfoodbank.org
Sunshine Coast Food Bank
P.O. Box 1069 Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0 T: 604-885-5881 (240) F: 604-885-9493 Dale Sankey Email: scfoodbank@dccnet.com
Website: www.sccss.ca/communityaction.html
The Terrace Church’s Food Bank
4012 Anderson St Terrace, BC V8G 2T2 T: (250) 635-9670
John Wiebenga email: jawiebenga@telus.net
Tansi Friendship Centre
P.O. Box 418 301 SOUTH ACCESS ROAD Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 T: 250-788-2996 F: 250-788-2353 Darlene Campbell Email: tansifcs@persona.ca
Website: www.bcaafc.com/centres/chetwynd
Vernon (and Enderby) Salvation Army
3303- 32nd Ave. Vernon, BC V1T 2M7 T: 250-549-1314 F: 250-549-7344 David MacBain email: david.macbain@shawcable.com
Trail – Salvation Army Services
730 Rossland Avenue Trail, BC V1R 3N3 T: 250-364-0445 F: 250-368-5806 Linda Radtke Email: salvationarmytrail@shaw.ca
Westside Community Food Bank Society
2545 Churchill Rd Westbank, BC V4T 2B4 T: (250) 768-1559 Faith Lanthier Email: wcfbca@yahoo.ca
Williams Lake – Salvation Army
267 Borland St Williams Lake, BC V2G 1R4 T: (250) 392-2423 F: (250) 392-1467 Claudine Kadonaga Email: claudine_kadonaga@can.salvationarmy.org
Community Harvest Food Bank
301 32nd Street, Castlegar, BC V1N 3S6; P: 250-365-6440; Debbie McIntosh; debbiemcintosh@shaw.ca
Cowichan Valley Basket Society
5810 Garden Street, Duncan, BC V9L 3V9; P: 250-746-1566; F: 250-746-1566; Colleen Fuller; cvbs@shaw.ca
Eagle Valley Community Food Bank
P.O. Box 777, Sicamous, BC V0E 2V0; P: 250-836-3440; F: 250-836-3414; Janet McClean-Senft; evcrc@telus.net; Website: www.eaglevalleyresourcecentre.ca
Whistler Food Bank
P.O. Box 900, Whistler, BC V0N 1B0; P: 604-935-7717; F: 604-932-0599;
Sara Jennings; foodbank@mywcss.org