S yy This issue: (Y Freedom Tower welcomes first tenants (Y Do you want to date my avatar? (Y Douglas awarded for international collaboration And more! Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Angela Espinoza, News Editor Mi news@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca State of health and safety of BC’s homeless » New reports help create better understanding of homeless situations Angela Espinoza "News Editor i Minews \ @theotherpress.ca everal reports released last week offer updated information on the state of BC’s homeless population. Reports were published by Megaphone Magazine and the Women’s Coalition of the Downtown Eastside, the latter of which formed in 20u1. Findings by Megaphone reveal that those who are homeless in BC face half the average life expectancy of BC residents. The Women’s Coalition report outlines the rate of violence against women in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), claiming physical assaults are “normalized.” Megaphone’s report, titled “Dying on the Streets,” was conducted between 2006 and 2013, which found “at least 271 homeless people died in British Columbia.” BC coroners provided numbers of recognized homeless deaths, but the report states that the numbers are “likely much higher” due to the number of homeless persons who go missing. The report also states homeless are twice as likely to die via accident, suicide, or homicide compared to average BC residents, and that : the average age of death for : homeless ranged from 40 to 49 : years of age. The average BC : resident, according to the report, : : lives up to 82.65 years. Of the 281 confirmed : deaths, 160 are totalled for : : having died on the streets, 90 for : : having died in shelters, and 31 : were listed as “unknown.” Recommendations for : preventative measures are also : outlined in the report. Amongst : other suggestions, Megaphone : states the BC Coroners Service : “should work with regional : health providers and local : homeless agencies ... so it can : better record the true number : of homeless deaths in British : Columbia.” Also suggested were : yearly coroner reports, as well : as monitoring of aboriginal : homeless people specifically to : have accurate numbers of the : aboriginal population of BC. As for the Women’s : Coalition report, titled “Getting : to the Roots,’ research was : conducted via participants who : were “self-identified women : with existing relationships to the : : DTES.” The report states that 48 : : per cent of those who responded : to their research said they had : experienced violence in the past : two years. Participants were asked, : “Where do you go or who do : you approach when you are : feeling unsafe?” The majority, : at 23 per cent, were classified : as “no one/deal with it myself” : An additional 20 per cent stated : per cent go to women's services, : while 15 per cent go to the police. : comfortable approaching to : talk about women’s safety,” 69 : per cent of responses selected : various women’s centre services, : yet only one per cent selected : going to the police. the contributing factors of many : not going to police is that some : victims live in the same housing : units as their aggressors, and : thus fear living on the streets if : the crimes are reported. Another : factor was that some “women : may be reliant on violent : partners for income, housing, or : other support.” : offered in the report, several : of which include offering 24- : hour shelters and self-defence : training for women, as well as : developing “decriminalized : areas where sex workers can : monthly, and sold via homeless : and low-income street vendors : throughout Vancouver and : Victoria. Each issue is $2, with : $0.75 of each sale going towards : each vendor; vendors can be : located via the Megaphone : Vendor Finder app. they inform friends or family, 19 When asked “What services or organizations do you feel The report stated that one of Suggestions for change are work openly and safely.” Megaphone is published Changes expected for BC transportation services » Upgrades and updates to occur over next year Angela Espinoza News Editor Me security cameras coming to BC transit The Canadian Press revealed on November 6 that additional buses outside Vancouver will be experimenting with security cameras by next year. The outlet interviewed BC Transit spokesperson Meribeth Burton, who stated the cameras were a measure in securing bus driver and passenger safety. The announcement comes after the fatal October 30 stabbing of Kelowna resident Caesar Rosales, for which 24-year-old Tyler Newton was : arrested last week on second- : degree murder charges. While : Rosales’ case required the help : of witnesses on the bus during : the attack, the Canadian Press : reported that roughly “two- : thirds” of TransLink buses are : already equipped with security : cameras. BC Ferries may be adjusting : fares : On November 4, BC Ferries : madea statement suggesting the : : busy Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo : route could be eliminated to : save money. Less than a day : later, following public outcry, : Transportation Minister Todd : Stone announced the route : would be staying in place. : announcement, BC Ferries : CEO Mike Corrigan stated : that by not cutting the route, : other means will be necessary : to secure funds. Corrigan told : the Canadian Press, “Without : being able to look and explore : the major routes, we're looking : at having difficulty now keeping fares at inflationary increases. : That’s going to be basically : impossible now” : November 6 that BC Ferries : would need to look into : asking for more subsidies from : taxpayers, which already cover : over $100-million per year for the : service. In response, BC Finance : Minister Mike de Jong told CBC, Following Stone’s : “We're in the budgeting process : and we'll continue to work : through that. : “That's a pledge, as you : might expect, to continue to : work cooperatively with BC : Ferries to ensure we find the right balance.” Christy Clark was one : of three Premiers, alongside : Saskatchewan Premier Brad : Wall and Alberta Premier Jim : Prentice, requesting funds with : the economy in mind. Clark : cited exports from BC to Asia : asa driving force for upgrades. : Clark stated those she was : communicating with in Asia : were frustrated with BC’s export : Ata November 6 mediaevent, : system; “Their complaint is : British Columbia was one of : often we don't have a way to get : several Western provinces asking : it [exports] to them fast enough,” : for over $1-billion from Ottawa: said Clark. “The only way that : to address transportation : the western provinces can fulfill : concerns. For BC’s portion, : our capacity to grow Canada is : money would go towards, as : if we have the infrastructure in : Global News reports, upgrades: place to ensure we can get our : to major highways, railways, and : goods to those growing markets.” : shipping ports. : Over $1-billion requested for : transportation Corrigan told CBC on