Campbell River

Campbell River sits on the east coast of Vancouver Island, a working town built on fishing, forestry, and tourism, with a slower pace than the bigger cities down-island but no shortage of hard edges if you're sleeping rough. Average household income here has hovered around $90,000 in recent years, though that figure hides a lot of people getting by on far less. The 2023 Point-in-Time Count for the Campbell River area identified 125 individuals experiencing homelessness, a number that advocates say likely undercounts the real total. The John Howard Society operates services here that can connect you to housing supports and outreach workers who know the area well. Campbell River Family Services offers counseling, food support, and help navigating income assistance if you're trying to get back on stable ground. The Salvation Army runs a presence in town too, often a reliable spot for a meal or a warm place to sit for a while. Whatever brought you here, you're not invisible, and there are people in this town whose whole job is to help you find the next step.