PHS Community Services Society
@phscss.bsky.social
Housing, harm reduction and healthcare in Vancouver & Victoria, BC
KW Studios is hosting a Nightmare Before Christmas comedy night next Friday (December 19) at 111 West Hastings Street.
Please bring winter jackets/warm clothing/toiletries to be donated to PHS Community Services Society’s Osborn shelter.
Please bring winter jackets/warm clothing/toiletries to be donated to PHS Community Services Society’s Osborn shelter.
HR NIGHTMARE before CHRISTMAS - KW Studios / Kokoro Dance Theatre Society - Vancouver - Dec 19, 2025
Who’s been naughty and Who's been Nice this year? Who even cares? Instead of judging yourself, come and judge 6 comedians instead. Instead of coal, come fill your stockings with lols, at the most…
www.showpass.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:00 AM
KW Studios is hosting a Nightmare Before Christmas comedy night next Friday (December 19) at 111 West Hastings Street.
Please bring winter jackets/warm clothing/toiletries to be donated to PHS Community Services Society’s Osborn shelter.
Please bring winter jackets/warm clothing/toiletries to be donated to PHS Community Services Society’s Osborn shelter.
“Communities should not be debating whether they have emergency weather shelters or not. It is essential safety infrastructure.”
Carolina Ibarra speaking for 22 BC housing providers makes it clear that axing housing isn't going to bring order to streets - far from it
tinyurl.com/4j6rzb8f
Carolina Ibarra speaking for 22 BC housing providers makes it clear that axing housing isn't going to bring order to streets - far from it
tinyurl.com/4j6rzb8f
December 14, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“Communities should not be debating whether they have emergency weather shelters or not. It is essential safety infrastructure.”
Carolina Ibarra speaking for 22 BC housing providers makes it clear that axing housing isn't going to bring order to streets - far from it
tinyurl.com/4j6rzb8f
Carolina Ibarra speaking for 22 BC housing providers makes it clear that axing housing isn't going to bring order to streets - far from it
tinyurl.com/4j6rzb8f
“Anywhere where there’s forest or bushes, or any sort of infrastructure like bridges, we’ve found encampments” - Brooke Wright, during a ride-along providing homelessness outreach in the Greater Victoria suburbs.
“We are actually seeing people die.
“We are actually seeing people die.
Hiding in plain sight: Homelessness in Greater Victoria suburbs
The Union Mission Gospel Greater Victoria outreach team says people are dying due to a lack of shelter space outside of the capital city.
tinyurl.com
December 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
“Anywhere where there’s forest or bushes, or any sort of infrastructure like bridges, we’ve found encampments” - Brooke Wright, during a ride-along providing homelessness outreach in the Greater Victoria suburbs.
“We are actually seeing people die.
“We are actually seeing people die.
"This plan is fundamentally inadequate: it fails to provide affordable housing, worsens existing crises and threatens the wellbeing of the neighbourhood’s current residents."
Academics: plans to gentrify the Downtown Eastside will worsen the homelessness crisis.
themainlander.com/2025/12/08/h...
Academics: plans to gentrify the Downtown Eastside will worsen the homelessness crisis.
themainlander.com/2025/12/08/h...
Hundreds of Academics Sign Letter Against City's 'Uplifting the DTES' Plan
Academics: "Any plan that limits social housing is unacceptable"
themainlander.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:00 AM
"This plan is fundamentally inadequate: it fails to provide affordable housing, worsens existing crises and threatens the wellbeing of the neighbourhood’s current residents."
Academics: plans to gentrify the Downtown Eastside will worsen the homelessness crisis.
themainlander.com/2025/12/08/h...
Academics: plans to gentrify the Downtown Eastside will worsen the homelessness crisis.
themainlander.com/2025/12/08/h...
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Chris Amyotte was trying to seek help after a bear spray attack when a VPD officer shot him 7 times with beanbag rounds. He died on the street moments later.
His family is devastated to learn that the police officer who shot him will not faces charges or discipline.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
His family is devastated to learn that the police officer who shot him will not faces charges or discipline.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
Neighbours Sought Help for a Bear Spray Victim. Police Saw a Violent Threat | The Tyee
Chris Amyotte died after police shot him seven times with beanbags. His family rejects findings that cleared officers of wrongdoing.
thetyee.ca
December 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Chris Amyotte was trying to seek help after a bear spray attack when a VPD officer shot him 7 times with beanbag rounds. He died on the street moments later.
His family is devastated to learn that the police officer who shot him will not faces charges or discipline.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
His family is devastated to learn that the police officer who shot him will not faces charges or discipline.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/12...
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Requiring foreign visitors to hand over 5 years of social media isn’t “security,” it’s unchecked government control.
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Foreign tourists could be required to disclose 5 years of social media histories under Trump administration plan
The Customs and Border Protection proposal would apply even to countries that don't require visas to enter.
www.nbcnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Requiring foreign visitors to hand over 5 years of social media isn’t “security,” it’s unchecked government control.
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Criminalising drug use doesn’t make communities safer. It pushes people into unsafe conditions and limits access to healthcare.
CPHI #Nigeria documents the harms of punitive drug laws and shows how health-based approaches can save lives. Learn more: bit.ly/4pr2Oph
CPHI #Nigeria documents the harms of punitive drug laws and shows how health-based approaches can save lives. Learn more: bit.ly/4pr2Oph
December 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Criminalising drug use doesn’t make communities safer. It pushes people into unsafe conditions and limits access to healthcare.
CPHI #Nigeria documents the harms of punitive drug laws and shows how health-based approaches can save lives. Learn more: bit.ly/4pr2Oph
CPHI #Nigeria documents the harms of punitive drug laws and shows how health-based approaches can save lives. Learn more: bit.ly/4pr2Oph
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Drug alert issued Dec 2, 2025: by @vchhealthcare.bsky.social for Powell River/qathet Red chunks sold as down found to contain fentanyl, benzodiazepines, and medetomidine.
Stay safe and stay connected, friends ❤️
Stay safe and stay connected, friends ❤️
December 3, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Drug alert issued Dec 2, 2025: by @vchhealthcare.bsky.social for Powell River/qathet Red chunks sold as down found to contain fentanyl, benzodiazepines, and medetomidine.
Stay safe and stay connected, friends ❤️
Stay safe and stay connected, friends ❤️
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
"The World Health Organization had a historic opportunity to ease a global ban on the coca leaf," reports @matthabusby.bsky.social. "But the agency has chosen not to do so."
The December 2 decision goes against the findings of the WHO's own expert review, which detailed harms of prohibition:
The December 2 decision goes against the findings of the WHO's own expert review, which detailed harms of prohibition:
“Moral Bankruptcy” as WHO Opts to Maintain Global Coca Prohibition - Filter
The World Health Organization had a historic opportunity to ease a strict global ban on the coca leaf—a prohibition, campaigners ...
filtermag.org
December 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
"The World Health Organization had a historic opportunity to ease a global ban on the coca leaf," reports @matthabusby.bsky.social. "But the agency has chosen not to do so."
The December 2 decision goes against the findings of the WHO's own expert review, which detailed harms of prohibition:
The December 2 decision goes against the findings of the WHO's own expert review, which detailed harms of prohibition:
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
www.timescolonist.com/opinion/les-...
"The 'deemed consent' section is a central part of the case, on which arguments closed just two weeks ago. Now the amendment (Bill 32) voids it, just as the judge begins deliberations."
"The 'deemed consent' section is a central part of the case, on which arguments closed just two weeks ago. Now the amendment (Bill 32) voids it, just as the judge begins deliberations."
Les Leyne: Addictions workers push back against involuntary care
Some of the addictions workers the NDP says it is trying to protect say they will refuse to implement the “violent expansion of involuntary treatment.”
www.timescolonist.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:05 PM
www.timescolonist.com/opinion/les-...
"The 'deemed consent' section is a central part of the case, on which arguments closed just two weeks ago. Now the amendment (Bill 32) voids it, just as the judge begins deliberations."
"The 'deemed consent' section is a central part of the case, on which arguments closed just two weeks ago. Now the amendment (Bill 32) voids it, just as the judge begins deliberations."
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Drives me crazy when #harmreduction and #addiction treatment are put forward as diametrically opposed choices, as if we can pick just 1. Even if treatment is the goal, engaging in harm reduction services increases the odds of starting and completing treatment. Assuming people can get access!
December 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Drives me crazy when #harmreduction and #addiction treatment are put forward as diametrically opposed choices, as if we can pick just 1. Even if treatment is the goal, engaging in harm reduction services increases the odds of starting and completing treatment. Assuming people can get access!
"How then do we feign surprise when suffering people end up addicted to opiates — drugs created specifically for just one purpose: To kill pain?"
Bill Stacey on society's hypocrisy over addictions: drugs to ease pain that the average person is eager to inflict.
Read it:
Bill Stacey on society's hypocrisy over addictions: drugs to ease pain that the average person is eager to inflict.
Read it:
Comment: We are all responsible for the toxic drug crisis
Whether we intend to or not, whether we perceive it or not, we can be quite awful to each other. This awfulness has consequences.
tinyurl.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"How then do we feign surprise when suffering people end up addicted to opiates — drugs created specifically for just one purpose: To kill pain?"
Bill Stacey on society's hypocrisy over addictions: drugs to ease pain that the average person is eager to inflict.
Read it:
Bill Stacey on society's hypocrisy over addictions: drugs to ease pain that the average person is eager to inflict.
Read it:
Giving Tuesday is next week – Tuesday, Dec. 2 – and we’re 60% of the way towards our goal to support seniors in crisis.
Double your donation now: tinyurl.com/26waj533
Thanks to a gift-matching donor who's ready to match up to a total of $10,000, your donation will go twice as far!
Double your donation now: tinyurl.com/26waj533
Thanks to a gift-matching donor who's ready to match up to a total of $10,000, your donation will go twice as far!
November 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Giving Tuesday is next week – Tuesday, Dec. 2 – and we’re 60% of the way towards our goal to support seniors in crisis.
Double your donation now: tinyurl.com/26waj533
Thanks to a gift-matching donor who's ready to match up to a total of $10,000, your donation will go twice as far!
Double your donation now: tinyurl.com/26waj533
Thanks to a gift-matching donor who's ready to match up to a total of $10,000, your donation will go twice as far!
“This young lady, she lost her life way too early and she was a really great person” - Smokey D.
The Downtown Eastside graffiti legend was in Brookswood, Langley to paint a memorial for 24-year-old Breallan Dawne Franks.
Read on: tinyurl.com/yzws2xu9
The Downtown Eastside graffiti legend was in Brookswood, Langley to paint a memorial for 24-year-old Breallan Dawne Franks.
Read on: tinyurl.com/yzws2xu9
November 29, 2025 at 3:00 AM
“This young lady, she lost her life way too early and she was a really great person” - Smokey D.
The Downtown Eastside graffiti legend was in Brookswood, Langley to paint a memorial for 24-year-old Breallan Dawne Franks.
Read on: tinyurl.com/yzws2xu9
The Downtown Eastside graffiti legend was in Brookswood, Langley to paint a memorial for 24-year-old Breallan Dawne Franks.
Read on: tinyurl.com/yzws2xu9
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
"The helping agencies of #VancouverIsland 's urban centres are preparing to open their #warmingcentres and #extremeweather #emergencyshelter beds...there will be 771 extreme-weather response ( #EWR ) #shelter spaces provided." #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.hashilthsa.com/news/2025-11...
Vancouver Island cities prepare shelter plans as icy weather approaches | Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper
With snow on the mountain tops and cold, wet nights chilling city streets, Vancouver Island’s most vulnerable will be seeking out a warm place to sleep. The helping agencies of Vancouver Island’s urba...
www.hashilthsa.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:33 PM
"The helping agencies of #VancouverIsland 's urban centres are preparing to open their #warmingcentres and #extremeweather #emergencyshelter beds...there will be 771 extreme-weather response ( #EWR ) #shelter spaces provided." #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.hashilthsa.com/news/2025-11...
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
🧵 #HarmReduction is community, care, & unconditional love. This holiday season, like every other time of the year, harm reductionists are caring for people across communities to save lives, support individuals' health needs, provide food, connect folks to housing..
bit.ly/HarmReductionFriendsgiving
bit.ly/HarmReductionFriendsgiving
Philly nonprofit's ‘friendsgiving’ brings holiday spirit to city’s most vulnerable
Kensington-based Prevention Point Philadelphia served more than 630 people, including those isolated from family while suffering from addiction, homelessness or both.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🧵 #HarmReduction is community, care, & unconditional love. This holiday season, like every other time of the year, harm reductionists are caring for people across communities to save lives, support individuals' health needs, provide food, connect folks to housing..
bit.ly/HarmReductionFriendsgiving
bit.ly/HarmReductionFriendsgiving
“He’s telling the public that keeping people alive is the problem, and that narrative justifies cutting or opposing services that prevent death."
"That narrative pushes people back into alleys, cars, tents and single rooms where there is no one there to intervene.
"That narrative pushes people back into alleys, cars, tents and single rooms where there is no one there to intervene.
Motion to close Nanaimo’s Overdose Prevention Site withdrawn – The Discourse.
New motion will ask province to reexamine its policy on responding to the overdose crisis.
thediscourse.ca
November 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“He’s telling the public that keeping people alive is the problem, and that narrative justifies cutting or opposing services that prevent death."
"That narrative pushes people back into alleys, cars, tents and single rooms where there is no one there to intervene.
"That narrative pushes people back into alleys, cars, tents and single rooms where there is no one there to intervene.
"In the current housing crisis the right to housing is violated every day.
"Examples include shutting down a renters’ advocacy office, freezing funding for new supportive housing in the DTES, demolishing tiny homes and withdrawing support for modular housing"
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
"Examples include shutting down a renters’ advocacy office, freezing funding for new supportive housing in the DTES, demolishing tiny homes and withdrawing support for modular housing"
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
BC Cities Declared Housing Is a Human Right. Now What? | The Tyee
Some municipalities are still voting against policies that could help end homelessness. Here’s a better way forward.
thetyee.ca
November 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"In the current housing crisis the right to housing is violated every day.
"Examples include shutting down a renters’ advocacy office, freezing funding for new supportive housing in the DTES, demolishing tiny homes and withdrawing support for modular housing"
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
"Examples include shutting down a renters’ advocacy office, freezing funding for new supportive housing in the DTES, demolishing tiny homes and withdrawing support for modular housing"
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
A heartfelt thank you to the Vancouver team at Definity Insurance. Your generosity shines bright this season.
They stopped by our Osborn Shelter with a donation of warm clothing gathered during their annual winter PHS clothing drive.
These items make an immediate difference for people suffering
They stopped by our Osborn Shelter with a donation of warm clothing gathered during their annual winter PHS clothing drive.
These items make an immediate difference for people suffering
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 AM
A heartfelt thank you to the Vancouver team at Definity Insurance. Your generosity shines bright this season.
They stopped by our Osborn Shelter with a donation of warm clothing gathered during their annual winter PHS clothing drive.
These items make an immediate difference for people suffering
They stopped by our Osborn Shelter with a donation of warm clothing gathered during their annual winter PHS clothing drive.
These items make an immediate difference for people suffering
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Yet another study with the same finding: Increased #fentanyl possession criminal penalties did not change the preexisting trends for overdose deaths in Colorado, and may have contributed to an increase in #overdose deaths among the state's Black population. #crime
www.westword.com/news/colorad...
www.westword.com/news/colorad...
Colorado's Harsher Fentanyl Laws Aren't Working, Report Says
Despite 2022 legislation that made possession of small amounts a felony, opioid overdose deaths are still rising
www.westword.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Yet another study with the same finding: Increased #fentanyl possession criminal penalties did not change the preexisting trends for overdose deaths in Colorado, and may have contributed to an increase in #overdose deaths among the state's Black population. #crime
www.westword.com/news/colorad...
www.westword.com/news/colorad...
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
"The new housing project will include 20 self-contained units in substance-free surroundings for people who have completed early-stage #recovery and are ready to prepare for independent living." #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC vicnews.com/2025/11/19/d...
November 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
"The new housing project will include 20 self-contained units in substance-free surroundings for people who have completed early-stage #recovery and are ready to prepare for independent living." #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC vicnews.com/2025/11/19/d...
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
Why shouldn’t governments invoke the notwithstanding clause, if there is no political cost or moral hazard? If voters don’t hold them accountable? If we just shrug and turn the page? #ableg #abpoli #abheritage #Alberta #DelwinVriend #LeilaniMuir
Stripping Away Rights Using the Notwithstanding Clause. - Alberta Views
After a week of rancorous debate, Klein announced he would not invoke the notwithstanding clause on the landmark gay rights decision...
albertaviews.ca
November 18, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Why shouldn’t governments invoke the notwithstanding clause, if there is no political cost or moral hazard? If voters don’t hold them accountable? If we just shrug and turn the page? #ableg #abpoli #abheritage #Alberta #DelwinVriend #LeilaniMuir
Reposted by PHS Community Services Society
"The most common mistake I’ve seen over the years is telling people it’s important to use sterile water. It’s not. We figure that even if giving people this advice isn’t entirely necessary, it at least can't be wrong. But it is."
Harm Reduction Outreach Needs to Get Comfortable With Booty-Bumping - Filter
A few years back I had an outreach-based job doing hepatitis C testing and treatment, with participants who were often ...
filtermag.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
"The most common mistake I’ve seen over the years is telling people it’s important to use sterile water. It’s not. We figure that even if giving people this advice isn’t entirely necessary, it at least can't be wrong. But it is."
Our Alexander Street Community kitchen is producing more nutritious meals than ever before after upgrades.
Having been in daily use since 2015, it was showing considerable wear and tear.
Fortunately, the Al Roadburg Foundation stepped up to the plate with funding for upgrades.
Having been in daily use since 2015, it was showing considerable wear and tear.
Fortunately, the Al Roadburg Foundation stepped up to the plate with funding for upgrades.
November 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Our Alexander Street Community kitchen is producing more nutritious meals than ever before after upgrades.
Having been in daily use since 2015, it was showing considerable wear and tear.
Fortunately, the Al Roadburg Foundation stepped up to the plate with funding for upgrades.
Having been in daily use since 2015, it was showing considerable wear and tear.
Fortunately, the Al Roadburg Foundation stepped up to the plate with funding for upgrades.
Thank ewe to Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store (2667 East Hastings St.) for their longstanding support of people struggling in the Downtown Eastside.
The store invited customers to make and donate socks for PHS shelter guests during their Socktober Challenge, collecting 435 pairs.
The store invited customers to make and donate socks for PHS shelter guests during their Socktober Challenge, collecting 435 pairs.
November 15, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Thank ewe to Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store (2667 East Hastings St.) for their longstanding support of people struggling in the Downtown Eastside.
The store invited customers to make and donate socks for PHS shelter guests during their Socktober Challenge, collecting 435 pairs.
The store invited customers to make and donate socks for PHS shelter guests during their Socktober Challenge, collecting 435 pairs.