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Rod Morrison (middle) donated three commercial tents to put our food and supplies under when we set up (Manna volunteers Raquel, left, and Jerrold, right) We're now able to keep dry on Wednesdays & Saturdays Shelter is welcome during the rainy season

In the shadow of Vancouver Island’s picturesque beaches, where the salty air mingles with the scent of cedar forests, a quiet crisis unfolds each night. For dozens of women in the Parksville and Oceanside area—from Whiskey Creek to Qualicum Beach—their homes are not cozy apartments overlooking the Strait of Georgia, but the cramped confines of minivans, sedans, and SUVs. These women, often invisible to the tourists snapping photos of Rathtrevor Beach’s sands, navigate a daily gauntlet of survival that strips away dignity, health, and hope. According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Homeless Count conducted by BC Housing, 94 people experienced homelessness in the Parksville-Qualicum region, with 90 of them unsheltered—many in vehicles—and 31% identifying as women.  This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a symptom of a community turning its back on its own. A Day in the Life: Precarious Routines and Constant Vigilance Dawn breaks over Parksville’s waterfront, and Sarah—whose name has been changed for privacy—stirs in the back of her 2012 Honda Odyssey. At 52, she’s a former administrative assistant who lost her rental to a landlord sell-off amid soaring costs. Her morning begins with a furtive check of the mirrors: no tickets from overnight parking enforcers, no aggressive knocks from passersby. She drives to the public pool in Qualicum Beach for a hurried shower, rationing her $1,200 monthly disability cheque between gas, groceries, and the occasional laundromat visit. The day unfolds in a blur of necessity. Breakfast is a thermos of instant coffee heated on the car’s engine block, alongside canned soup warmed the same way—a trick shared among the “car community,” as locals quietly call it. Errands mean circling parking lots at the Quality Foods grocery or the Parksville Community Centre, always ready to move if a security guard approaches. Evenings bring the hunt for a discreet spot: behind a strip mall, along a quiet residential street, or near the weigh station on Highway 19A, where bears have been drawn to encampments, heightening dangers.  For women like Sarah, safety is paramount; many, including Indigenous women who make up 84% of the unsheltered in the count, flee domestic violence, choosing the isolation of a vehicle over returning to abusers.   In BC, 59% of women escaping intimate partner violence face financial abuse that traps them in this limbo, with average one-bedroom rents hitting $2,300—far beyond reach on fixed incomes. These routines erode privacy and autonomy. Cooking is limited to a single-burner camp stove used sparingly to avoid detection. Laundry? A public machine every two weeks, if funds allow. And sleep? Interrupted by the rumble of passing trucks or the chill seeping through thin windows, even in October’s damp mildness. Jerrold Paetkau, community chaplain with Manna Homeless Society, estimates 60 to 100 people—many first-time homeless like grandmothers and aunts—are enduring this in the area, prioritizing meds and meals over rent to cling to a shred of self-respect. The Hidden Health Toll: A Body and Mind Under Siege Living in a vehicle isn’t survival—it’s slow erosion. The confined space, often no larger than a queen-sized bed, fosters chronic issues: back pain from contorted sleeping positions, respiratory problems from poor ventilation, and heightened risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if idling for heat in winter.  Hygiene suffers without reliable access to bathrooms or showers, leading to infections, skin conditions, and the psychological weight of feeling perpetually unclean. Mental health deteriorates too—constant hypervigilance breeds anxiety and depression, compounded by isolation. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council notes that vehicle-dwellers face elevated risks for severe illnesses, from hypothermia in uninsulated cars to substance use as a coping mechanism. In the 2025 count, 63% of respondents reported co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, with women particularly vulnerable to trauma from violence.  For those fleeing abuse, the car’s “safety” is illusory: no locks strong enough against intruders, no space to process PTSD. Emergency room visits—accessed by 80% in the past year—burden an already strained Nanaimo hospital, where hypothermia and overdose cases spike without winter supports.  It’s a vicious cycle: illness prevents job hunting, deepening poverty, while the lack of stable rest impairs healing. Barren Ground: Limited Services and Nowhere Safe to Park Oceanside’s services are a patchwork at best. Manna Homeless Society offers food hampers and outreach, but no dedicated drop-in center exists for daily needs. The Oceanside Homelessness Task Force, reformed in August after disbanding in May, coordinates sporadically, but lacks municipal backing for essentials like consistent cold-weather shelters—leaving unhoused women to face another winter exposed, as in February 2025 when no overnight options materialized.    Safe parking? A pipe dream. Manna proposed designated lots in February—secure spots with oversight to shield against harassment and theft—but Parksville’s mayor deemed it a “non-starter,” citing community resistance.   Women park at their peril: RCMP calls rose slightly in early 2025, often tied to encampment complaints, while bylaws target “nuisance vehicles” without alternatives.  For violence survivors, this scarcity is deadly—shelters turn away callers, with BWSS fielding over 52,000 requests last year alone, many from women opting for cars over danger. Dehumanizing Our Own: The Ripple of Indifference By allowing women to vanish into vehicles, Oceanside dehumanizes a vital community thread. These aren’t “transients”—82% have been homeless a year or more, 61% five years or longer, many lifelong locals.  We’re eroding our social fabric: families splinter as children couch-surf, workers burn out from exhaustion, and Indigenous women—overrepresented at 84%—bear intergenerational scars from systemic racism.  This indifference festers, breeding resentment—protests at Parksville City Hall in October 2024 demanded shelters, met with zoning excuses—while petty thefts rise from desperation, tainting the “small-town charm.” It’s self-inflicted harm. Tourism dips as encampments mar beaches; cleanup costs balloon; ERs overflow, hiking taxes for all. In Whiskey Creek, a 2020 trailer fire claimed three lives amid isolation— a tragedy born of neglect that echoes today.  By sidelining these women, we dim the empathy that binds us, turning neighbors into suspects. Leadership’s Blind Spot: Yards Over Lives Where is the care? Local leaders fret over unkempt yards and bear sightings at weigh stations—minor eyesores that dominate council agendas—while homelessness claims lives unchecked.  The task force, chaired by outreach worker Shayla Day, begs for zoned shelters and outreach funding, but bureaucratic inertia prevails, labeling solutions “band-aids” unfit for a crisis killing 458 provincially in 2023, with Vancouver Island hardest hit.   This misplaced focus—on aesthetics over agony—signals a poverty of compassion, where the “messy neighbour’s yard” trumps the mess we’ve made of human lives. It’s not inevitable. Expand safe parking, fund transition housing, recognize “invisible” women in counts. As Paetkau implores: “Everyone deserves safety at least, right?”  Oceanside, let’s choose love over lots left empty. Our women—and our souls—depend on it. Donations can be made by e-transfer to: MannaParksville@gmail.com   Or  cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O.  Box  389 Errington BC VOR 1VO Thank you for your love and support! Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society

M&N Mattress has always provided Manna with beautiful mattresses and box springs for people at risk who needed assistance. Their generosity benefits the community in so many ways, which is truly a blessing. Mark from M&N mattress presents Robin from Manna with a cheque. If you wish to support M&N Mattress, this week is the final week of their 25th Anniversary Sale in Parksville. Donations can be made to Manna Homeless Society by e-transfer to: MannaParksville@gmail.com   Or  cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O.  Box  389 Errington BC VOR 1VO Thank you for your love and support! Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society

Penny from Craig Bay residents association loaded Manna up with a wonderful selection of winter clothing and an assortment of survival gear. Donations can be made by e-transfer to: MannaParksville@gmail.com   Or  cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O.  Box  389 Errington BC VOR 1VO Thank you for your love and support! Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society

As the chill of winter approaches on Vancouver Island, the conversation around supporting our most vulnerable residents—particularly those experiencing poverty and homelessness—has taken center stage. Victoria’s Mayor Marianne Alto has issued a passionate plea to municipalities across the region, urging each community to take responsibility for its own citizens by establishing winter shelters and warming stations. This call, rooted in the recognition that homelessness is a shared challenge, not just an urban one, resonates deeply here in Parksville. It’s time for our Mayor and Council to respond affirmatively and lead by example. Mayor Alto’s statements highlight a critical imbalance in how extreme weather support is distributed. In a recent council meeting, she emphasized that “it is long past time for other municipalities in the region to stand up and provide support for their own residents.”  She pointed out that Victoria has long shouldered a disproportionate burden, with most emergency shelters concentrated in the capital while other areas contribute minimally. This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about saving lives during harsh winter conditions, where temperatures can drop to dangerous levels, exacerbating health risks for the unhoused. While Alto’s direct appeals have been aimed at Capital Region municipalities like Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt—many of which have yet to fully commit to their own facilities—the principle extends island-wide.  Vancouver Island’s interconnected communities, from Victoria in the south to Parksville and beyond in the north, face similar seasonal challenges. Homelessness doesn’t respect municipal boundaries; individuals often migrate to larger centers like Victoria for services, straining resources there. By setting up local warming stations and shelters, Parksville can ensure that our residents receive care closer to home, reducing the need for such migrations and fostering a more equitable system across the island. Focusing on the poor and vulnerable, as Alto advocates, aligns with Parksville’s values of compassion and community support. Our town, known for its beautiful beaches and retiree-friendly atmosphere, is not immune to poverty. Local data shows a growing number of individuals facing housing insecurity, influenced by rising costs and limited affordable options. Establishing winter shelters—perhaps in partnership with non-profits, churches, or community centers—could provide essential warmth, meals, and connections to social services during cold snaps. Warming stations, activated when temperatures hit thresholds like 0°C with precipitation or below -4°C, could be simple yet effective: portable tents, heated buses, or designated indoor spaces equipped with basic amenities. The benefits extend beyond humanitarian grounds. Proactive measures can prevent emergency room overloads, as seen in Victoria where cold-related health issues spike in winter. By caring for our own, Parksville can build stronger community resilience, encourage volunteer involvement, and even attract provincial funding for such initiatives. Mayor Alto has offered her city’s model as a blueprint, inviting others to “steal from us” and adapt it— a generous starting point for our Council to consider. To date, responses from other areas have been mixed, with some, like Saanich, planning limited spaces while others, such as Sidney, have outright rejected proposals due to community pushback.  Parksville has an opportunity to distinguish itself by acting decisively. Our Mayor and Council should convene discussions immediately, engaging residents, service providers like the Salvation Army or local food banks, and even reaching out to neighboring Qualicum Beach for collaborative efforts. In the spirit of island-wide solidarity, let’s heed Mayor Alto’s call. By establishing our own winter shelters and warming stations, Parksville not only supports its citizens but contributes to a more compassionate Vancouver Island. The time to act is now—before the first frost reminds us of the human cost of inaction. Mayor and Council, the community is watching and ready to support you in this vital endeavor. Donations can be made by e-transfer to: MannaParksville@gmail.com   Or  cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O.  Box  389 Errington BC VOR 1VO

The human cost is undeniable. Without adequate shelter, exposure to sub-zero temperatures can lead to frostbite, hypothermia, and even death. As one advocate noted in a recent discussion, “People could die” without timely interventions.  Stories from the community echo this fear: residents of temporary motels and shelters worry about being thrust back onto the streets when programs end, as seen in past closures that left people scrambling. On social media, voices from Vancouver Island and beyond highlight the inadequacy of current systems, with calls for more beds and better planning as storms approach. The Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness, reformed in August 2025 after a brief disbandment, has been pushing for solutions since 2010.  Yet, Parksville Council’s engagement has been inconsistent. In April 2025, council voted against reinstating a city liaison to the task force, a move that drew criticism for sidelining collaboration.  While Coun. Mary Beil was appointed as liaison earlier in 2024, the need for stronger commitment remains. Non-profits like Manna Homeless Society provide foot care, food, clothing, tents and resources, but they can’t fill the void left by insufficient government action. Comparisons with other regions show what’s possible. BC Housing’s Emergency Shelter Program includes year-round and temporary winter options across the province, with extreme weather response plans activated when conditions warrant. Communities like Victoria have funded agreements for shelters, demonstrating proactive leadership. Parksville could follow suit by partnering with BC Housing and the RDN to establish a dedicated warming shelter—perhaps expanding on existing sites like churches or adding modular units for flexibility. Mayor O’Brien and council members, the time for deliberation is over. With recent tremors, floods, and cold fronts reminding us of Vancouver Island’s volatile weather, delaying action risks lives.  Residents can contact council at council@parksville.ca to voice support.  Let’s make Parksville a community that protects all its members, not just in fair weather, but when the storms hit hardest. The vulnerable can’t wait—will you? Donations can be made by e-transfer to: MannaParksville@gmail.com   Or  cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O.  Box  389 Errington BC VOR 1VO Thank you for your love and support! Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society

Your dedication to supporting homeless, impoverished, and marginalized individuals by contributing to emergency food packages, clothing, and other provisions makes our work possible. Thanks to you, our generous donors whom perhaps we have never met, we are able to distribute essential clothing items like coats, socks, underwear, toques (hats), and gloves during these months to help those in need to stay warm.   As fall transitions to colder weather, your support is making a direct impact! Your donations of clean, gently used clothing, including winter items like good clean winter coats, as well as food, bikes, funds, and supplies is vital to the well-being of our less fortunate neighbours. We are so grateful for your generosity!      If you are someone who is still unsure about how you can help, would like to get involved or wish to arrange a donation, please call: 250-248-0845 Thanks for all your love! Blessings, Robin Campbell

As the leaves turn golden and families in Parksville and Qualicum gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, the Manna Homeless Society invites our community to pause and reflect on the challenges faced by those without a place to call home. This season of gratitude reminds us to extend compassion and support to our neighbours experiencing homelessness, who face unique struggles every day. In our picturesque coastal towns, homelessness often remains hidden but is no less real. The individuals we serve at Manna Homeless Society confront daily hardships that many of us can scarcely imagine. Harsh weather, lack of safe shelter, and limited access to basic necessities like food, hygiene facilities, and medical care are constant realities. For many, the absence of stable housing creates barriers to employment, mental health support, and social connection, perpetuating a cycle of vulnerability. As we sit down to warm meals and share laughter with loved ones this Thanksgiving, let’s acknowledge those in our community who lack these comforts and work together to make a difference. The challenges are immense. Rising living costs in Parksville and Qualicum have made affordable housing scarce, pushing more individuals and families to the margins. Many of those we support face mental health struggles or addiction, often compounded by trauma and systemic barriers. The stigma of homelessness can isolate them further, making it harder to access services or feel part of the community. Yet, despite these obstacles, the resilience and humanity of these individuals shine through. They are our neighbours, each with a story, dreams, and the right to dignity. At Manna Homeless Society, we are committed to providing practical support—foot care, bicycles, food, warm clothing, hygiene supplies, tents, tarps, sleeping bags, and a compassionate ear. Our outreach programs aim to meet people where they are, offering not just material aid but also hope and connection. This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the volunteers, donors, and community partners who make this work possible. Your generosity allows us to serve food, distribute sleeping bags, blankets, and provide essential resources that bring comfort and stability to those in need. As we give thanks, we invite you to join us in extending a hand to those experiencing homelessness. Your support can change lives. To Donate to Manna Homeless Society, please: - send an e-transfer to Mannaparksville@gmail.com or - mail cheques to Manna Homeless Society Box 389 Errington BC V0R 1V0 Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us provide vital services and reminds those we serve that they are seen and valued. This Thanksgiving, let’s come together as a community to share not just our tables but our hearts. On behalf of Manna Homeless Society, I extend my deepest thanks for your love and support. Together, we can build a more compassionate Parksville and Qualicum, where everyone has a place to belong. With gratitude, Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society

Donations quietly roll in, literally, from generous individuals parting with their travel trailers and motorhomes. No public accolades or fanfare is made for these members of our community who see the importance of helping out their fellow neighbours who have fallen upon hard times. But the life-changing effects of providing a home to a family, couple or individual cannot be understated! No one plans to lose their home. And the circumstances under which this happens can be gut wrenching, frustrating and shocking to say the least. To the silent donors, Manna thanks you. To those considering a donation of your well-loved holiday vehicle, don't hesitate to inquire about how your amazing donation can help change lives! Contact Robin Campbell of the Manna Homeless Society to find out how to donate or get more information: 250.248.0845 oceansidemanna@gmail.com

Thanks to donations from our community, two more families are moving out of tents and into a trailer and a motorhome. One home gets a new wheel and then it's on its way to its new location. A second home on wheels for a family in our community...

Whenever Manna has requested free mattresses, M&N Mattress and Sofa company has always come through! Their support for the less fortunate in our community is just amazing! We join them in celebrating their 25th Anniversary for selling Canadian-made products in Parksville. Congratulations! And Thank You for all you do for the Manna Homeless Society!

As the crisp autumn air gives way to the relentless chill of Vancouver Island winters, the community of Parksville & Qualicum Beach face a stark reality: homelessness is not just a personal crisis—it’s a communal one. With temperatures poised to plummet and no guaranteed winter shelters in sight, the failure of local leaders to prioritize those at risk and the unhoused threatens not only individual lives but the very social and economic fabric of these tight-knit Oceanside towns. The numbers paint a grim picture. In British Columbia, deaths among people experiencing homelessness have nearly tripled since 2020, surging from 152 in that year to at least 458 in 2023 alone—a 23% jump from the previous year. Vancouver Island bore the brunt of this rise, recording the province’s highest year-over-year increase in such fatalities. Toxic drugs, exposure to the elements, and untreated health issues are the deadly culprits, but experts point to systemic neglect as the root cause. In the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area, a Point-in-Time (PIT) Homelessness Count conducted in April 2025 revealed the scale of the problem, with volunteers surveying those in need at sites like the SOS Community Services Centre’s Friendship Garden.  These counts, part of a province-wide effort from October 2024 through April 2025, underscore a hidden epidemic: dozens, if not hundreds, of locals — many working poor, seniors on fixed incomes, or those fleeing domestic violence — are teetering on the edge of the streets. When community leaders deprioritize this issue, the ripple effects touch every corner of life in these rural and semi-rural enclaves. Start with public health: Emergency rooms in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, the nearest major facility, overflow with hypothermia cases, infections from unsanitary encampments, and overdoses exacerbated by isolation.  In Errington and Whiskey Creek, where dense forests offer precarious shelter, the lack of outreach means preventable illnesses spread unchecked, straining volunteer groups like Manna Homelessness Society in the Oceanside area.  “We’re seeing more families showing up for food  because they’re one missed rent payment away from joining the line,” says Shayla Day, chair of the newly reformed Oceanside Homelessness Task Force, which relaunched in August 2025 after the previous iteration disbanded in May. This task force, a fragile beacon of hope, coordinates referrals for essentials and housing from Nanoose to Qualicum Bay. But without municipal buy-in, it’s a band-aid on a gaping wound. Economically, the cost is staggering. Encampments along Highway 19A in Parksville and Qualicum Beach deter tourists—the lifeblood of these beach-side economies—while cleanup efforts drain municipal budgets. Property values dip as residents in Whiskey Creek and Errington report rising petty thefts linked to desperation, fostering a climate of fear that erodes the “small-town charm” these areas pride themselves on. "When we ignore the unhoused, we’re all paying the price—in taxes, in safety, in lost productivity,” Day warns. Socially, the divide deepens. Protests erupted outside Parksville City Hall last October, with over 30 residents demanding an overnight winter shelter after the previous season’s failures left dozens exposed to sub-zero winds.  Echoes of that urgency persist on social media, where locals vent frustration: “Winter extreme weather shelter demanded but no zoned locations exist,” one user posted, highlighting the bureaucratic roadblocks that doom good intentions.  In Qualicum Bay, where retirees outnumber youth, the sight of tents in community parks sows seeds of resentment, pitting “us” against “them” in a zero-sum game where no one wins. But the true tragedy unfolds in the shadows of winter’s grip. Last February, unhoused individuals in the Parksville area shivered through nights without consistent shelter, a repeat of heart-wrenching patterns that claimed lives of individuals province-wide.  Flash back to November 2020 in Whiskey Creek where three people perished in a burned trailer amid a remote encampment—victims of fire, drugs, and isolation after being pushed out of town cores.  Such stories aren’t relics; they’re harbingers. With 2023’s toll hitting 458 across BC and Island numbers climbing fastest, experts predict another deadly season unless action is swift.  A homeless advocate who tried to aid that Whiskey Creek camp was warned away the night of the deaths, underscoring how stigma and neglect compound the peril. As frost etches the windows of cozy homes from Nanoose to Qualicum Bay, the question hangs heavy: Will leaders finally heed the call? The Oceanside Task Force urges immediate zoning for shelters, expanded outreach, and provincial funding ties. Residents, too, can amplify voices through petitions and council meetings. In these communities, where neighbors once rallied for beach cleanups and summer fairs, the real test of character comes not in sunshine, but in the storm. Ignore the homeless at our peril—for their tragedy becomes ours, etched in the ice of inaction. Manna Homeless Society remains committed to providing foot care, food, tents , tarps, sleeping bag, clothing, bicycles, and sometimes donated trailers and motorhomes to those in need. We are bracing for a tough winter and ask for your continued support to help those without shelter your donations make a difference. Thank you for your love and support! Robin Campbell Manna Homeless Society Donations can be made by e-transfer to: MannaParksville@gmail.com   Or  cheques can be sent to: Manna Homeless Society P.O.  Box  389 Errington BC VOR 1VO