Just a heads up that NSUN is on a summer break from formal meetings for June, July and August 2024. We’ll resume meetings in September. However there is still lots going on in terms of homelessness issues and activities to support unhoused and other groups during the upcoming weeks. First we must talk about JuneContinue reading “NSUN on a summer break – but still lots of action around homelessness!”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Housing Justice Project Report Release Event
NSUN was honoured to be asked to support the Housing Justice Project group as they spoke to the media and the public from the steps of the Legislature on May 7, 2024. They released their comprehensive report Homes for All: Evaluating the Right to Housing in Victoria, spoke about their personal journeys of homelessness andContinue reading “Housing Justice Project Report Release Event”
NSUN Members Address Mayor and Council
On April 11, 2024, six speakers – three of who are members of NSUN – addressed the City of Victoria Mayor and Council around various issues associated with the homelessness crisis. In the list below are links to individual posts for each of the NSUN speakers as well as a note of when Bernice andContinue reading “NSUN Members Address Mayor and Council”
Susan Z. Martin Addresses Mayor and Council – April 11, 2024
NSUN member Susan Z. Martin spoke to council about the slow pace of housing construction for those most in need in the CRD and what NSUN sees as a viable and quickly available alternative – sanctioned encampments. See Susan’s address beginning at about 38:35 minutes into this video. The text of her address is here.Continue reading “Susan Z. Martin Addresses Mayor and Council – April 11, 2024”
Niki Ottosen and Tammy C. Address Mayor and Council – April 11, 2024
NSUN member Niki Ottosen, founder of The Backpack Project, was the first speaker of six to address council at their meeting on April 11, 2024. Niki spoke about the harassment of unhoused people by City of Victoria bylaw officers. The text of her address is here and you can watch her starting at about 23:00Continue reading “Niki Ottosen and Tammy C. Address Mayor and Council – April 11, 2024”
Helen Smith Addresses Mayor and Council – April 11, 2024
NSUN member Helen Smith spoke to council on April 11, 2024 about the human rights violations perpetrated by Bylaw Officers on the unhoused and the moral obligations of the municipal government and the public to do better. See Helen’s address beginning at about 32:00 minutes into this video. The text of her address is here.Continue reading “Helen Smith Addresses Mayor and Council – April 11, 2024”
Webinar: Human Rights Solutions to Encampments
On March 26th, the Federal Housing Advocate, Marie-Josée Houle, moderated a panel of lived experts and grassroots organizers who spoke to how all levels of government can work together to address the urgent and life-threatening crisis of encampments, in collaboration with encampment residents. Houle recently released her comprehensive report and her urgent call for a humanContinue reading “Webinar: Human Rights Solutions to Encampments”
NSUN Member presents to Mayor and Council (Feb. 8, 2024)
On February 8, 2024 NSUN member Heather Murphy presented to City of Victoria Mayor and Council urging the City to implement the Municipal Guidance document, from the National Working Group on Homeless Encampments, that lays out simply and directly the recommended way for municipalities to engage with homeless encampments. You can see Heather’s presentation beginningContinue reading “NSUN Member presents to Mayor and Council (Feb. 8, 2024)”
NSUN Breakfast Program in 2024
From November 2022 to March 2023, NSUN members Helen, Susan and Heather ran a breakfast program that saw them taking hot coffee and breakfast sandwiches to Stadacona and Topaz Parks every Sunday – including Christmas and New Year’s Day which both fell on Sundays during this time. When NSUN resumed regular meetings after a summerContinue reading “NSUN Breakfast Program in 2024”
Unhoused Neighbour Makes Heartfelt Presentation to Mayor and Council
One of NSUN’s activities is pushing back against policies and regulations that are harmful to unhoused people. The change to bylaws regarding personal property introduced by the City of Victoria in early-December 2023 is one such action. This bylaw allows officers to impound the belongings of unhoused neighbours for several days, and the changes includeContinue reading “Unhoused Neighbour Makes Heartfelt Presentation to Mayor and Council”
Neighbourhood Solidarity with Unhoused Neighbours 