Updated April 27 at 7 p.m. with new information from BC Housing.

Photo of the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. Public Domain.

Deal for 40 hotel rooms Cancelled at last minute due to 'significant opposition' from the community

As BC Housing announced plans to move homeless people in Vancouver and Victoria from large encampments to hundreds of hotel rooms and other spaces, a similar effort has faltered in Nanaimo.

Last week the BC Housing website showed the government had secured up to 50 spaces at two locations in Nanaimo, but on Saturday, that number quietly changed to just 13 — all of which are for women leaving violent situations

BC Housing has confirmed the drop was due to a deal with a local hotel for 40 rooms that fell through before the contract was finalized.

Nanaimo City Councillor Erin Hemmens, said the hotel's location leaked out and there was “significant opposition” from the surrounding community.

When asked what she would say to those who oppose the hotel being used for Nanaimo's homeless, Hemmens replied “nothing that is printable” but added she understands the reservations people have.

“There isn't an easy answer,” said Hemmens “But we're certainly working on it, the right people are at the table having the conversations, but it's —unfortunately— slow moving, and that's because they want to do it right.”

BC Housing said it is continuing to negotiate with a number of hotels in Nanaimo, calling it "a fluid situation." It expect more contracts to be finalized in the next two weeks.

BC's Minister of Social Development and Poverty Shane Simpson was asked about finding space for homeless people in places like Nanaimo during a news conference on Saturday.

"I do want to assure those other communities that we are not ignoring them, we are not forgetting them," Simpson said. "We will be working with community leaders and elected officials in those communities on issues that are important to them around homelessness and street entrenchment.”

Nine days ago, the province gave itself the ability to fine hotel owners $2,000 if they refuse a provincial request to serve as self-isolation facilities or to support essential workers. BC Housing said so far it has not used the order and all spaces have been freely negotiated with hotels.

The province is also working with the City of Nanaimo and Island Health to open an “emergency response centre” that will provide more spaces for vulnerable people in the area.

Neither BC Housing or the City of Nanaimo will say where the emergency response centre might be located, or how many beds it will have, but Hemmens said she hopes an announcement will be made sometime this week.

City staff provided BC Housing with a list of of city-owned facilities that might be suitable as shelter and isolation for people who are homeless on March 30 along with a list of hotels and local faith groups.

Nanaimo City Councillor Don Bonner, who chairs the city’s Health and Housing Task Force, said one of the sticking points is what will happen to people staying at a city property once the emergency is lifted and the city needs to resume operations.

The province is partnering with non-profit societies who have experience working with homeless people for the day-to-day management of the hotels and other spaces. Staff will be on site regularly and will provide daily meals and cleaning services. Health-care workers will also provide on-site medical attention as needed.

A homeless count on March 25 found at least 425 people who are homeless in Nanaimo, up 25 per cent from two years ago.

More than 57 emergency shelter spaces have closed in the last month. The 40-bed winter shelter at St. Peters church closed on March 31 and other shelters reduced bed spaces to create more space between shelter users.

The city's Health and Housing Task Force created a food security working group at its April 7 meeting. Its job is to address “funding, procurement and distribution options to provide safe and consistent meals for individuals experiencing homelessness and the vulnerable population.”