Updated May 1 at 2:30 p.m. with new information from BC Housing

Centre Will open in June with space for 35 people, but people who are sick with COVID-19 can’t stay there

📷 Community Services Building / CHLY File Photo (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The City of Nanaimo and BC Housing have announced that an Emergency Response Centre will open in June to provide shelter for 35 homeless residents for the duration of the pandemic.

The centre will be located in the Community Services Building at 285 Prideaux Street, which houses the 7-10 Club and Options for Sexual Health—both of which will remain on-site to help provide support.

People who are sick with COVID-19 will be not able to isolate at the centre, according to a spokesperson from BC Housing

BC Housing said it is for “people that are vulnerable and need a safe place to self-isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those who are immunocompromised or otherwise at high-risk for contracting COVID-19.”

The provincial framework for Emergency Response Centres states that people who are confirmed with COVID-19 and are infectious should be housed in spaces with private rooms and washrooms, such as hotels or motels.

Currently BC Housing has not secured any hotel rooms in Nanaimo for homeless people who are sick and need to isolate, though there are 13 rooms for women leaving violence.

"We are working with local governments and health authorities throughout the province to make sure spaces like these are available to help us mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and support people in need,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in a statement. “We will continue to work with the City of Nanaimo and community partners across the province to build off the work already underway through our Homes for B.C. plan, to ensure people and communities are supported during this crisis and beyond."

The day-to-day operations of the centre will be run the Island Crisis Care Society who have experience running running shelters and supportive housing.

According to BC Housing, services provided will include daily meals, access to hygiene facilities such as showers and washrooms, laundry, health services, as well as referral to counselling, mental health and addiction treatment where necessary. Staff will be on site 24/7 to offer support to guests and monitor who is coming in and out of the building.

A spokesperson from the city said that one of the challenges in opening up more shelter spaces is having experienced staff who can manage it.

“BC Housing and Island Health have been great partners to the City as both agencies are participating, and continue to participate, in the Council-led Health and Housing Task Force,” said Mayor Leonard Krog in a statement. “We continue to rely on them during this pandemic to address the immediate health emergency as well as the ongoing mental health and addictions issues that face our community.”

Some other tenants in the building will be relocating on June 1, and the city will grant them temporary relief from rent and lease payments to the city.

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.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated who ran the winter shelter at St. Peter’s church. CHLY regrets the error.